“Alas, alas, the great city,
    Babylon, the mighty city!
For in one hour your judgment has come.”^(A)

“How you have vanished^[a] from the seas,
    O city renowned,
once mighty on the sea,
    you and your inhabitants,^[b]
who imposed your^[c] terror
    on all the mainland!^[d](C)
18 Now the coastlands tremble
    on the day of your fall;
the coastlands by the sea
    are dismayed at your passing.”^(D)

How the oppressor has ceased!
    How his insolence^[a] has ceased!^(A)
5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,
    the scepter of rulers,
⁶ that struck down the peoples in wrath
    with unceasing blows,
that ruled the nations in anger
    with unrelenting persecution.^(B)
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
    they break forth into singing.
⁸ The cypresses exult over you,
    the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
“Since you were laid low,
    no one comes to cut us down.”^(C)
9 Sheol beneath is stirred up
    to meet you when you come;
it rouses the shades to greet you,
    all who were leaders of the earth;
it raises from their thrones
    all who were kings of the nations.^(D)
10 All of them will speak
    and say to you:
“You, too, have become as weak as we!
    You have become like us!”
¹¹ Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
    and the sound of your harps;
maggots are the bed beneath you,
    and worms are your covering.^(E)

¹² How you are fallen from heaven,
    O Morning Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
    you who laid the nations low!^(F)
13 You said to yourself,
    “I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
    on the heights of Zaphon;^[b](G)
14 I will ascend to the tops of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.”^(H)
15 But you are brought down to Sheol,
    to the depths of the Pit.^(I)