Babylon Is Fallen

1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was enlightened with his glory. 2And he cried with vehemence, and with a loud voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, a den of impure spirits, and a cage for every unclean and hateful bird. 3For all nations have drunk of the wine of her furious whoredom, and the kings of the earth have committed whoredom with her, and the merchants of the earth are grown rich by the abundance of her luxury.

4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out from her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye may not suffer by her plagues: 5for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6Give to her as she hath given to you, and repay her double according to her works: in the cup, which she hath mixed, mix for her double. 7As much as she hath glorified herself and indulged to luxury, so much torment and sorrow give her; because she saith in her heart, I sit as a queen, I am not a widow, and I shall see no sorrow. 8Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, even death and mourning and famine; and she shall be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Lament over Babylon

9And the kings of the earth, who have committed lewdness and lived luxuriously with her, shall bemoan her and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning; 10standing afar off for fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, the great city Babylon, that powerful city! for in one hour is thy judgement come.

11And the merchants of the earth shall bewail and mourn over her, because no one will buy their merchandize any more: 12the lading of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearl, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and all sorts of thyine wood, and vessels of ivory, and of the most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13and their cinnamon, and perfumes, and sweet ointment, and incense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, yea and the souls of men. 14And the fruits, which thy soul longed after, are gone from thee, and all thy delicate and splendid things are departed, and thou shalt find them no more. 15The merchants of these things, who grew rich by their trade with her, shall stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16and saying, Alas, alas, the great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17for in one hour is so great wealth laid waste. And every pilot, and all on board the ships, and the mariners, and all that traffic by sea, stood afar off, 18and cried out, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to this great city? 19And they threw dust on their heads, and cried out, weeping and moaning, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which all that had ships at sea were enriched by her sumptuous expences! for in one hour she is become desolate.

20Rejoice over her, O heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her.

The Doom of Babylon

21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus shall the great city Babylon be thrown down with violence, and never be found more. 22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard in thee no more: and no artist of any art whatsoever shall be found in thee any more; and the sound of a milstone shall be heard in thee no more. 23And the light of a candle shall be seen in thee no more; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, and by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24And herein was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.