Isaiah 13

1 A declaration about Babylon, that Isaiah son of Amoz received:⋮

2 On the bare mountain set up a signal flag, cry aloud to them, wave your hand for them to go into the gates of the nobles.⋮

3 I have commanded my holy ones, yes, I have called my mighty men to execute my anger, even my proudly exulting ones.⋮

4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of many people! The noise of a tumult of the kingdoms like many nations gathered together! Yahweh of hosts is mustering the army for the battle.⋮

5 They come from a far country, from way over the horizon. It is Yahweh with his instruments of judgment, to destroy the whole land.⋮

6 Howl, for the day of Yahweh is near; it comes with destruction from the Almighty.⋮

7 Therefore all hands hang limp, and every heart melts.⋮

8 They will be terrified; pain and agony will seize them, like a woman in labor. They will look in astonishment at one another; their faces will be aflame.⋮

9 See, the day of Yahweh comes with cruel wrath and overflowing anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy the sinners from it.⋮

10 The stars of heaven and the constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened even from dawn, and the moon will not shine.⋮

11 I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud and will bring down the arrogance of the ruthless.⋮

12 I will make men more rare than fine gold and mankind harder to find than the pure gold of Ophir.⋮

13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, by the fury of Yahweh of hosts, and on the day of his fierce anger.⋮

14 Like a hunted gazelle or like a sheep with no shepherd, every man will turn toward his own people and will flee to his own land.⋮

15 Every one who is found will be killed, and every one who is captured will die by the sword.⋮

16 Their infants also will be dashed in pieces before their eyes. Their houses will be plundered and their wives raped.⋮

17 Look, I am about to stir up the Medes to attack them, who will not be concerned about silver, nor do they delight in gold.⋮

18 Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants and they will not look with pity on children.⋮

19 Then Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the splendor of Chaldean pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.⋮

20 It will not be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. The Arab will not pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds have their flocks rest there.⋮

21 But wild animals of the desert will lie there. Their houses will be full of owls; and ostriches and wild goats will skip about there.⋮

22 Hyenas will cry in their fortresses, and jackals in the beautiful palaces. Her time is near, and her days will not be delayed.⋮