Revelation 18:9-24

New International Version

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(A) and shared her luxury^(B) see the smoke of her burning,^(C) they will weep and mourn over her.^(D) ¹⁰Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(E) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(F)
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour^(G) your doom has come!’

¹¹“The merchants^(H) of the earth will weep and mourn^(I) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(J)— ¹²cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^(K) ¹³cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(L)

¹⁴“They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her^(M) will stand far off,^(N) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^(O) ¹⁶and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(P)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!^(Q)
¹⁷In one hour^(R) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’^(S)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(T) will stand far off.^(U) ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning,^(V) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(W)?’^(X) ¹⁹They will throw dust on their heads,^(Y) and with weeping and mourning^(Z) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(AA)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’^(AB)

²⁰“Rejoice over her, you heavens!^(AC)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”^(AD)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

²¹Then a mighty angel^(AE) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(AF) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city^(AG) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
²²The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.^(AH)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.^(AI)
²³The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.^(AJ)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.^(AK)
    By your magic spell^(AL) all the nations were led astray.
²⁴In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,^(AM)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”^(AN)