13 The
burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2 Lift
ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake
the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I
have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for
mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4 The
noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous
noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts
mustereth the host of the battle. 5 They
come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the
weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl
ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction
from the Almighty. 7 Therefore
shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 8 And
they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they
shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one
at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold,
the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to
lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of
it. 10 For
the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their
light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall
not cause her light to shine. 11 And
I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;
and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low
the haughtiness of the terrible.
12
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden
wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore
I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in
the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And
it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they
shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own
land. 15 Every
one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined
unto them shall fall by the sword. 16 Their
children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses
shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. 17 Behold,
I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and
as for gold, they shall not delight in it. 18 Their
bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity
on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children. 19 And
Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency,
shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It
shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to
generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the
shepherds make their fold there. 21 But
wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full
of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance
there. 22 And
the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons
in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall
not be prolonged.