So the landquakesand writhes,For the purposesof the LORDagainstBabylonstand,To makethe landof BabylonA desolationwithoutinhabitants.
"Those who seeyou will gazeat you, They will ponderoveryou, [saying], 'Is thisthe manwho made the earthtremble,Who shookkingdoms,
The earthreelsto and frolike a drunkardAnd it totterslike a shack,For its transgressionis heavyupon it, And it will fall,neverto riseagain.
But the LORDis the true God;He is the livingGodand the everlastingKing.At His wraththe earthquakes,And the nationscannotendureHis indignation.
"Becauseof the indignationof the LORDshe will not be inhabited,But she will be completelydesolate;Everyonewho passesby Babylonwill be horrifiedAnd will hissbecauseof allher wounds.
"A swordagainstthe oraclepriests,and they will becomefools!A swordagainsther mightymen,and they will be shattered!
"The kingof Babylonhas heardthe reportabout them, And his handshanglimp;Distresshas grippedhim, Agonylike a woman in childbirth.
Thereforehearthe planof the LORDwhichHe has plannedagainstBabylon,and His purposeswhichHe has purposedagainstthe landof the Chaldeans:surelythey will dragthem off,[even] the littleonesof the flock;surelyHe will maketheir pasturedesolatebecauseof them.
At the shout,"Babylonhas been seized!"the earthis shaken,and an outcryis heardamong the nations.
"They will not takefrom you [even] a stonefor a cornerNora stonefor foundations,But you will be desolateforever,"declaresthe LORD.
Consecratethe nationsagainsther, The kingsof the Medes,Their governorsand alltheir prefects,And everylandof their dominion.
"Babylonwill becomea heap[of ruins], a hauntof jackals,An objectof horrorand hissing,withoutinhabitants.
"Her citieshave becomean objectof horror,A parchedlandand a desert,A landin whichnomanlivesAnd throughwhichnosonof manpasses.
From Danis heardthe snortingof his horses;At the soundof the neighingof his stallionsThe wholelandquakes;For they comeand devourthe landand its fullness,The cityand its inhabitants.
Beforethem the earthquakes,The heavenstremble,The sunand the moongrowdarkAnd the starslosetheir brightness.
"Becauseof thiswill not the landquakeAnd everyonewho dwellsin it mourn?Indeed, allof it will riseup like the Nile,And it will be tossedaboutAnd subsidelike the Nileof Egypt.
And he criedout with a mightyvoice,saying,"Fallen,fallenis Babylonthe great!She has becomea dwelling placeof demonsand a prisonof everyuncleanspirit,and a prisonof everyuncleanand hatefulbird.
