Babylon’s Fall

¹ Come down and sit on the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon! Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of Chaldea! For ⌞they shall no longer call⌟¹ you tender and delicate.

1. Literally “you shall not add they shall call to”

² Take the pair of mill stones and grind flour! Uncover your veil, strip off your skirt, uncover your thigh, pass through the rivers!

³ Your nakedness shall be exposed; indeed, your shame shall become visible. I will take vengeance and I will not ⌞spare⌟¹ a person.

1. Literally “plead with”

⁴ Our redeemer, Yahweh of hosts is his name, the holy one of Israel.

⁵ Sit silently and go into the darkness, daughter of Chaldea, for ⌞they shall no longer call⌟¹ you mistress of kingdoms.

1. Literally “you shall not add they shall call to”

⁶ I was angry with my people; I profaned my inheritance, and I gave them into your hand. You did not ⌞give⌟¹ them mercy; on the aged you made your yoke very heavy.

1. Literally “set up”

⁷ And you said, “I shall be an eternal mistress forever!” You did not set these things upon your heart; you did not remember its end.

⁸ Therefore now hear this, luxuriant one who sits¹ in security, who says² in her heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one. I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know the loss of children.”

1. Or “sitting”
2. Or “saying”

⁹ And these two shall come to you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children and widowhood shall come on you ⌞completely⌟,¹ in spite of your many sorceries, in spite of the power of your great enchantments.

1. Literally “as their fullness”

¹⁰ And you felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “⌞No one⌟¹ sees² me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one.”

1. Literally “none”
2. Or “is seeing”

¹¹ And evil shall come upon you, you will not know; it will be on the lookout for her. And disaster shall fall upon you; you will not be able to ⌞avert⌟¹ it. And ruin shall come on you suddenly; you do not know.

1. Literally “make amends”

¹² Stand, now, in your enchantments, and in your many sorceries with which you have labored from your youth. Perhaps you may be able to benefit; perhaps you may ⌞scare away⌟.¹

1. Literally “terrify”

¹³ You struggle with your many consultations;¹ let them stand, now, and save you— those who see the stars, divide the ⌞celestial sphere⌟,² who inform by new moons— from those things that are coming upon you.

1. Or “advice”
2. Literally “heavens,” that is, for astrology

¹⁴ Look! They are like stubble; the fire burns them completely. They cannot deliver ⌞themselves⌟¹ from the ⌞power⌟² of the flame; there is no coal ⌞for warming oneself⌟,³ no fire before which to sit.

1. Literally “their lives”
2. Literally “hand”
3. Literally “to grow warm”

¹⁵ So are to you those with whom you have labored, your traders from your youth. They wander, each to his side; there is no one who can save you.