³² With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist^(A) him.

³³ “Those who are wise will instruct^(B) many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.^{(C) 34} When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere^(D) will join them. ³⁵ Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined,^(E) purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

The King Who Exalts Himself

³⁶ “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself^(F) above every god and will say unheard-of things^(G) against the God of gods.^(H) He will be successful until the time of wrath^(I) is completed, for what has been determined must take place.^{(J) 37} He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(A) into a wilderness.^(B) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(C) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(D) and had seven heads and ten horns.^(E)

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

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

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^(H) of the earth will weep and mourn^(I) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(J)— 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;^{(K) 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.^(L)

¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’