Isaiah 13:1-11 ▼

1 The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

2 On a bare hill raise a signal; cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles.

3 I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, and have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, my proudly exulting ones.

4 The sound of a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle.

5 They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!

7 Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.

8 They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.

11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.