⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(A) She held a golden cup^(B) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^(C)

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(A) who had the seven bowls^(B) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(C) of the great prostitute,^(D) who sits by many waters.^{(E) 2} With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(F)

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(G) into a wilderness.^(H) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(I) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(J) and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(K) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(L) She held a golden cup^(M) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^{(N) 5} The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(O)

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(R) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(S) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^(T)

¹⁶ The beast and the ten horns^(A) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(B) They will bring her to ruin^(C) and leave her naked;^(D) they will eat her flesh^(E) and burn her with fire.^{(F) 17} For God has put it into their hearts^(G) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(H) until God’s words are fulfilled.^{(I) 18} The woman you saw is the great city^(J) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

² With a mighty voice he shouted:

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel^(A) coming down from heaven.^(B) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^{(C) 2} With a mighty voice he shouted:

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹ “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(A) and shared her luxury^(B) see the smoke of her burning,^(C) they will weep and mourn over her.^{(D) 10} Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(E) and cry:

¹¹ “The merchants^(A) of the earth will weep and mourn^(B) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(C)— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^{(D) 13} cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(E)

¹⁶ and cry out: