²⁰ “Gather together^(A) and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant^(B) are those who carry^(C) about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.^(D)

⁵ Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;^(A)
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.^(B)
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm^(C)
    nor can they do any good.”^(D)

¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(A)
He prays^(B) to it and says,
    “Save^(C) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(D) nothing;
    their eyes^(E) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(F) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(G)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(H) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(I)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(J) a deluded^(K) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(L)”

⁹ All the nations gather together^(A)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold^(B) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

³ For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.^(A)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,^(B)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich^(C) from her excessive luxuries.”^(D)

“‘Come out of her, my people,’^[a](E)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;^(F)
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,^(G)
    and God has remembered^(H) her crimes.
⁶ Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back^(I) double^(J) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.^(K)
7 Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.^(L)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;^[b]
    I will never mourn.’^(M)
8 Therefore in one day^(N) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,^(O)
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(U)
    you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour^(V) your doom has come!’

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(AE)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!^(AF)
17 In one hour^(AG) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’^(AH)