Isaiah 14:4-21

Contemporary English Version

⁷ Now all the world is at peace;
its people are celebrating
    with joyful songs.
⁸ King of Babylonia,
    even the cypress trees
and the cedars of Lebanon
    celebrate and say,
“Since you were put down,
no one comes along
    to chop us down.”

⁹ The world of the dead
    eagerly waits for you.
With great excitement,
the spirits of ancient rulers
    hear about your coming.
¹⁰ Each one of them will say,
“Now you are just as weak
    as any of us!
¹¹ Your pride and your music
have ended here
    in the world of the dead.
Worms are your blanket,
    maggots are your bed.”

^12 (A) You, the bright morning star,
    have fallen from the sky!
You brought down other nations;
    now you are brought down.
^13 (B) You said to yourself,
    “I'll climb to heaven
and place my throne
    above the highest stars.
I'll sit there with the gods
    far away in the north.
¹⁴ I'll be above the clouds,
    just like God Most High.”

¹⁵ But now you are deep
    in the world of the dead.
¹⁶ Those who see you will stare
    and wonder, “Is this the man
who made the world tremble
    and shook up kingdoms?
¹⁷ Did he capture every city
    and make earth a desert?
Is he the one who refused
    to let prisoners go home?”

¹⁸ When kings die, they are buried
    in glorious tombs.
¹⁹ But you will be left unburied,
just another dead body
    lying underfoot
    like a broken branch.
You will be one of many
killed in battle and gone down
    to the deep rocky pit.^[b]
20 You won't be buried with kings;
you ruined your country
    and murdered your people.

You evil monster!
We hope that your family
    will be forgotten forever.
²¹ We will slaughter your sons
to make them pay for the crimes
    of their ancestors.
They won't take over the world
or build cities
    anywhere on this earth.