Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel(A) coming down from heaven.(B) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(C) With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[a](D)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(E)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(F)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(G)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(H)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(I) from her excessive luxuries.”(J)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

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

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(V) and shared her luxury(W) see the smoke of her burning,(X) they will weep and mourn over her.(Y) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(Z) and cry:

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

11 “The merchants(AC) of the earth will weep and mourn(AD) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(AE) 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;(AF) 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.(AG)

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(AH) will stand far off,(AI) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(AJ) 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AK)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(AL)
17 In one hour(AM) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(AN)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(AO) will stand far off.(AP) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(AQ) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(AR)?’(AS) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(AT) and with weeping and mourning(AU) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(AV)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(AW)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(AX)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(AY)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(AZ) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(BA) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(BB) 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.(BC)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(BD)
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.(BE)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(BF)
    By your magic spell(BG) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(BH)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  2. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  3. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.

Babylon Is Fallen

18 After these things I saw another (A)angel (B)coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was (C)illuminated from his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “[a](D)Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She (E)has become a dwelling place of demons and a [b]prison of every (F)unclean spirit, and a [c]prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have fallen because of the (G)wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and (H)the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the (I)merchants of the earth have become rich from the [d]excessive wealth of her [e](J)luxury.”

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “(K)Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues; for her sins have [f](L)piled up as high as heaven, and God has (M)remembered her offenses. (N)Pay her back even as she has paid, and [g]give back to her double according to her deeds; in the (O)cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. (P)To the extent that she glorified herself and (Q)lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘(R)I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ For this reason (S)in one day her plagues will come, [h]plague and mourning and famine, and she will be (T)burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her (U)is strong.

Grief over Babylon

“And (V)the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and (W)lived luxuriously with her, will (X)weep and mourn over her when they (Y)see the smoke of her burning, 10 (Z)standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘(AA)Woe, woe, (AB)the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in (AC)one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And the (AD)merchants of the earth (AE)weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— 12 cargo of (AF)gold, silver, precious [i]stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, [j]bronze, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, [k]spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, [l]slaves, and (AG)human lives. 14 The fruit [m]you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them. 15 The (AH)merchants of (AI)these things, who became rich from her, will (AJ)stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘(AK)Woe, woe, (AL)the great city, she who (AM)was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and [n]adorned with gold, precious [o]stones, and pearls; 17 for in (AN)one hour such great wealth has been laid (AO)waste!’ And (AP)every shipmaster and every [p]passenger and sailor, and all who [q]make their living by the sea, (AQ)stood at a distance, 18 and were (AR)crying out as they (AS)saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘(AT)What city is like (AU)the great city?’ 19 And they threw (AV)dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘(AW)Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea (AX)became rich from her prosperity, for in (AY)one hour she has been laid (AZ)waste!’ 20 (BA)Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [r]saints and (BB)apostles and prophets, because (BC)God has [s]pronounced judgment for you against her.”

21 Then [t]a (BD)strong angel (BE)picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, (BF)the great city, be thrown down with violence, and (BG)will never be found again. 22 And (BH)the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the (BI)sound of a mill will never be heard in you again; 23 and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the (BJ)voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your (BK)merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived (BL)by your witchcraft. 24 And in her was found the (BM)blood of prophets and of [u]saints, and of (BN)all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:2 Lit Babylon...fell, fell
  2. Revelation 18:2 Or haunt
  3. Revelation 18:2 Or haunt
  4. Revelation 18:3 Lit power
  5. Revelation 18:3 Or sensuality
  6. Revelation 18:5 Lit joined together
  7. Revelation 18:6 Lit double to her
  8. Revelation 18:8 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
  9. Revelation 18:12 Lit stone
  10. Revelation 18:12 Or brass
  11. Revelation 18:13 Gr amomon, an Indian spice plant
  12. Revelation 18:13 Lit bodies
  13. Revelation 18:14 Lit of your soul’s desire
  14. Revelation 18:16 Lit gilded
  15. Revelation 18:16 Lit stone and pearl
  16. Revelation 18:17 Lit one who sails to a place
  17. Revelation 18:17 Lit work the sea
  18. Revelation 18:20 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  19. Revelation 18:20 Lit judged your judgment of her
  20. Revelation 18:21 Lit one
  21. Revelation 18:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people

巴比伦的被毁

18 此后,我又看到另一位天使从天堂而降。他持有大权,荣光普照大地。 这位天使高声呼喊:

“她垮了!
大城巴比伦垮掉了!
她变成了魔鬼之窟,
邪灵出没之地,
各种脏鸟聚集之巢,
各种污秽可憎的禽兽藏身之穴。
世人因喝了她淫乱的烈酒而醉倒了,
地上的诸王与她发生淫乱。
世上的商贾都因她的奢侈而大发横财。”

接着我又听到从天堂里传来一个声音说:

“我的子民,从那城出来,
免得你们沾染她的罪恶,
免得你们遭受到落到她身上的灾害,
她罪恶滔天。
上帝忘不了她的罪行。
要像她对待你们那样对待她,
而且要加倍惩罚她。
为她调配的酒,要比她给别人调配的酒浓两倍。
赐给她的悲伤和痛苦与她给自己的豪华、荣耀一样多。
她不停地对自己说:
‘我坐在宝座上像女王一样;
我不是寡妇,
我绝不会悲伤。’
但是,一天之内,注定要降临在她身上的灾难会一齐降临:
瘟疫、悲伤、饥荒。
她会被烈火焚烧,
因为审判她的主上帝是强大的。”

那些和她发生过淫乱、与她分享过奢侈的地球上的诸王,看到焚烧她的烟,会为她哭泣、悲伤。 10 他们对她受到的惩罚恐惧万分,唯恐避之不及。他们会说:

“多可怕呀,多可怕呀!伟大的城市!
哦,雄伟的巴比伦城!
刚刚一个钟头,你的惩罚就来临了。”

11 世间的商贾也要为她哭泣和悲伤,因为再也没有人来买他们的货物了, 12 没有人来买他们的金、银、珠宝、亚麻丝绸、大红大紫的衣料、各种香木牙雕、各种贵重木器、青铜铁器、大理石。 13 也没有人来买肉桂、豆蔻、香料、香膏、乳香、酒、油、面粉、麦子、牛羊车马、奴隶, 甚至人的生命。 商贾们哭泣着说:

14 “哦,巴比伦,你梦寐以求的美物都弃你而去,
你所有的荣华富贵都一去不复返了。”

15 靠做这些生意而发财的商人离她远远地站着,因为他们都害怕她所受到的折磨。他们悲伤痛哭, 16 说道:

“惨呀,伟大的巴比伦是多么悲惨呀,
她身穿绫罗绸缎,全身披红挂紫,
浑身金光闪闪、珠光宝气!
17 这些财富仅在一个钟头内,便被毁掉了!”

所有的船长、旅客、水手,和靠海谋生的人,都远远地站着。 18 他们看到焚烧着她的烟,就喊道∶“有哪座城市能和这座大城相比呀?” 19 然后,他们把尘土扬在头上,悲痛欲绝地哭喊道:

“惨呀,这座大城市多么地惨呀!
所有以航海为生的人都靠她发了大财,
然而,她却在一个钟头之内被毁!
20 天堂呀,为此欢呼吧,
使徒、先知和所有上帝的子民们,
你们欢呼吧!
因她对你们所做的事,上帝惩罚了她!”

21 这时,一个强壮的天使搬起一块磨盘大的巨石,把它扔进了海里,说道:

“大城巴比伦也要像这样被猛烈地扔下去,再也不见踪影。
22 你再也听不到琴师、歌手、笛手的音乐和号角,
再也找不到从事各种行当的工匠,
听不到磨盘的声音。
23 也不会有照明的灯光,
再也听不到新郎和新娘的欢笑。
你的商人是世上最精明的人,
世人都被你的魔法蒙蔽了。
24 在巴比伦,发现了先知、上帝子民和地上所有被杀害的人的血。”

The Fall of Babylon the Great

18 After(A) these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, (B)and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried [a]mightily with a loud voice, saying, (C)“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and (D)has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and (E)a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations (F)have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, (G)and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the [b]abundance of her luxury.”

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, (H)“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. (I)For her sins [c]have reached to heaven, and (J)God has remembered her iniquities. (K)Render to her just as she rendered [d]to you, and repay her double according to her works; (L)in the cup which she has mixed, (M)mix double for her. (N)In the measure that she glorified herself and lived [e]luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as (O)queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ Therefore her plagues will come (P)in one day—death and mourning and famine. And (Q)she will be utterly burned with fire, (R)for strong is the Lord God who [f]judges her.

The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall

(S)“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her (T)will weep and lament for her, (U)when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, (V)‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! (W)For in one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And (X)the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 (Y)merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and (Z)souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have [g]gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, (AA)that great city (AB)that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 (AC)For in one hour such great riches [h]came to nothing.’ (AD)Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 (AE)and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, (AF)‘What is like this great city?’

19 (AG)“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! (AH)For in one hour she [i]is made desolate.’

20 (AI)“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [j]holy apostles and prophets, for (AJ)God has avenged you on her!”

Finality of Babylon’s Fall

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, (AK)“Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and (AL)shall not be found anymore. 22 (AM)The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 (AN)The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, (AO)and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For (AP)your merchants were the great men of the earth, (AQ)for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And (AR)in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who (AS)were slain on the earth.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 18:2 NU, M omit mightily
  2. Revelation 18:3 Lit. strengths
  3. Revelation 18:5 NU, M have been heaped up
  4. Revelation 18:6 NU, M omit to you
  5. Revelation 18:7 sensually
  6. Revelation 18:8 NU, M has judged
  7. Revelation 18:14 NU, M been lost to you
  8. Revelation 18:17 have been laid waste
  9. Revelation 18:19 have been laid waste
  10. Revelation 18:20 NU, M saints and apostles