Font Size
Revelation 17-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Revelation 17-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Great Whore and the Beast
17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great whore[a] who is seated on many waters,(A) 2 with whom the kings of the earth have engaged in sexual immorality[b] and with the wine of whose prostitution the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk.”(B) 3 So he carried me away in the spirit[c] into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.(C) 4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her prostitution,(D) 5 and on her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the great, mother[d] of whores[e] and of earth’s abominations.”(E) 6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly amazed.(F) 7 But the angel said to me, “Why are you so amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.(G)
9 “This calls for a mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; also, they are seven kings,(H) 10 of whom five have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth, but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.(I) 13 These are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast; 14 they will wage war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”(J)
15 And he said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the whore[f] is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.(K) 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the whore;[g] they will make her desolate and naked; they will devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.(L) 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by agreeing to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.(M) 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”(N)
The Fall of Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined by his splendor.(O) 2 He called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
It has become a dwelling place of demons,
a haunt of every foul spirit,
a haunt of every foul bird,
a haunt of every foul and hateful beast.[h](P)
3 For all the nations have fallen[i]
from the wine of the wrath of her prostitution,
and the kings of the earth have engaged in sexual immorality[j] with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power[k] of her luxury.”(Q)
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
“Come out of her, my people,
so that you do not take part in her sins
and so that you do not share in her plagues,(R)
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and God has remembered her iniquities.(S)
6 Render to her as she herself has rendered,
and repay her double for her deeds;
mix a double dose for her in the cup she mixed.(T)
7 As she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,
so give her a like measure of torment and grief.
Since in her heart she says,
‘I rule as a queen;
I am no widow,
and I will never see grief,’(U)
8 therefore her plagues will come in a single day—
pestilence and mourning and famine—
and she will be burned with fire,
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”(V)
9 And the kings of the earth, who engaged in sexual immorality[l] and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning;(W) 10 they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas, alas, the great city,
Babylon, the mighty city!
For in one hour your judgment has come.”(X)
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo any more, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble,(Y) 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, choice flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, slaves—and human lives.[m](Z)
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendor
are lost to you,
never to be found again!”
15 The merchants of these wares, who grew wealthy from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,(AA)
16 “Alas, alas, the great city,
clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!(AB)
17 For in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste!”
And all shipmasters and seafarers, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off(AC) 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,
“What city was like the great city?”(AD)
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, the great city,
where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For in one hour she has been laid waste.”(AE)
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints and apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her condemnation of you.(AF)
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“With such violence Babylon the great city
will be thrown down
and will be found no more;(AG)
22 and the sound of harpists and entertainers and of flutists and trumpeters
will be heard in you no more,
and an artisan of any trade
will be found in you no more,
and the sound of the millstone
will be heard in you no more,(AH)
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for your merchants were the magnates of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.(AI)
24 And in you[n] was found the blood of prophets and of saints
and of all who have been slaughtered on earth.”(AJ)
Footnotes
- 17.1 Or prostitute
- 17.2 Or prostitution
- 17.3 Or in the Spirit
- 17.5 Or Babylon, the great mother
- 17.5 Or prostitutes
- 17.15 Or prostitute
- 17.16 Or prostitute
- 18.2 Other ancient authorities read a haunt of every foul and hateful bird
- 18.3 Other ancient authorities read all the nations have drunk
- 18.3 Or prostitution
- 18.3 Or resources
- 18.9 Or prostitution
- 18.13 Or chariots, and human bodies and souls
- 18.24 Gk her
Revelation 17-18
New International Version
Revelation 17-18
New International Version
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) 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(U) and go to its destruction.(V) The inhabitants of the earth(W) whose names have not been written in the book of life(X) from the creation of the world will be astonished(Y) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom.(Z) The seven heads(AA) are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not,(AB) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns(AC) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour(AD) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.(AE) 14 They will wage war(AF) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over(AG) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings(AH)—and with him will be his called, chosen(AI) and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(AJ) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(AK) 16 The beast and the ten horns(AL) you saw will hate the prostitute.(AM) They will bring her to ruin(AN) and leave her naked;(AO) they will eat her flesh(AP) and burn her with fire.(AQ) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(AR) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(AS) until God’s words are fulfilled.(AT) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(AU) that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel(AV) coming down from heaven.(AW) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(AX) 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[a](AY)
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(AZ)
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(BA)
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.(BB)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(BC)
and the merchants of the earth grew rich(BD) from her excessive luxuries.”(BE)
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’[b](BF)
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(BG)
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,(BH)
and God has remembered(BI) her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back(BJ) double(BK) for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(BL)
7 Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(BM)
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c]
I will never mourn.’(BN)
8 Therefore in one day(BO) her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(BP)
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(BQ) and shared her luxury(BR) see the smoke of her burning,(BS) they will weep and mourn over her.(BT) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(BU) and cry:
11 “The merchants(BX) of the earth will weep and mourn(BY) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(BZ)— 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;(CA) 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.(CB)
14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(CC) will stand far off,(CD) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(CE) 16 and cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(CF)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(CG)
17 In one hour(CH) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(CI)
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(CJ) will stand far off.(CK) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(CL) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(CM)?’(CN) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(CO) and with weeping and mourning(CP) cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(CQ)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(CR)
20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(CS)
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”(CT)
The Finality of Babylon’s Doom
21 Then a mighty angel(CU) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(CV) and said:
“With such violence
the great city(CW) of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.(CX)
No worker of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.(CY)
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.(CZ)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(DA)
By your magic spell(DB) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(DC)
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(DD)
Footnotes
- Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
- Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.