Isaiah 13

Judgment Against Babylon

1 This is the message Isaiah, son of Amoz, got from God about Babylon.

2 Raise up a banner on a high mountain! Shout to them, wave your hand, and tell the warriors to get ready to march through the gates of the powerful.

3 God says, “I have commanded My chosen soldiers, the ones who rejoice in My glory, to carry out My anger.”

4 Listen! There is noise on the mountains, like a huge crowd. A roar of kingdoms, nations gathering. The Lord of Armies is calling His army together for war.

5 They are coming from far away, from the ends of heaven, the Lord and the weapons of His anger, to destroy the whole land.

The Day of the Lord

6 Cry out, because the day of the Lord is near! It is coming like destruction straight from the Almighty.

7 That is why everyone’s hands will go weak, and every heart will melt in fear.

8 People are going to panic, pain and sorrow will hit them like a woman giving birth. They will stare at each other, faces on fire with terror.

9 Look, the day of the Lord is coming, cruel and full of wrath. He is bringing fierce anger to make the land desolate and wipe sinners out of it.

10 The stars in the sky will not shine, the sun will go dark when it rises, and the moon will not give its light.

11 God says, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and bring down the ruthless.”

12 “I will make people scarcer than pure gold, rarer than the gold of Ophir.”

13 “I will shake the heavens, and the earth will tremble from its place when the Lord of Armies shows His anger in that day of His wrath.”

The Fall of Babylon

14 People will scatter like deer being chased or sheep with no shepherd, everyone running back to their own land, fleeing to their own people.

15 Anyone caught will be killed; anyone found will fall by the sword.

16 Their babies will be smashed to pieces right in front of them; their houses will be looted, their wives violated.

17 God says, “I am stirring up the Medes against them. They do not care about silver or gold, you cannot buy them off.”

18 Their bows will crush young men, they will not pity the fruit of the womb, no mercy for the children.

19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride of the Babylonians’ glory, will be destroyed by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

20 It will never be lived in again, not for generations. No tents, no camps, no shepherds resting there.

21 Wild animals will take over. Desert creatures will fill the ruins, owls will live there, and goats will dance around.

22 Hyenas will howl in the castles, and jackals in the fancy houses. Babylon’s time is almost up, her days are numbered.