The Humiliation of Babylon
1
1Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin 2daughter of Babylon; 3sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of 4the Chaldeans! 5For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
2
Take the millstones and 6grind flour, 7put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers.
3
Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.
4
8Our Redeemer--the LORD of hosts is his name-- is the Holy One of Israel.
5
9Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of 10the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called 11the mistress of kingdoms.
6
12I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand; 13you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.
7
You said, "I shall be 14mistress forever," so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.
8
Now therefore hear this, 15you lover of pleasures, 16who sit securely, who say in your heart, 17"I am, and there is no one besides me; 18I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children":
9
19These two things shall come to you in a moment, 20in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, 21in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.
10
You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, 22"I am, and there is no one besides me."
11
But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; 23and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.
12
24Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
13
You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, 25those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.
14
Behold, 26they are like stubble; 27the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!
15
Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)