Isaiah 13
1A declaration about Babylon, that Isaiah son of Amoz received: 1
2On the bare mountain set up a signal flag, cry aloud to them, 1 wave your hand for them to go into the gates of the nobles. 1
3I have commanded my holy ones, 1 yes, I have called my mighty men to execute my anger, even my proudly exulting ones. 1
4The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of many people! 1 The noise of a tumult of the kingdoms like many nations gathered together! 1 Yahweh of hosts is mustering the army for the battle. 1
5They come from a far country, from way over the horizon. 1 It is Yahweh with his instruments of judgment, to destroy the whole land. 1
6Howl, for the day of Yahweh is near; it comes with destruction from the Almighty. 1
7Therefore all hands hang limp, and every heart melts. 1
8They will be terrified; pain and agony will seize them, like a woman in labor. 1 They will look in astonishment at one another; their faces will be aflame. 1
9See, the day of Yahweh comes with cruel wrath and overflowing anger, 1 to make the land a desolation and to destroy the sinners from it. 1
10The stars of heaven and the constellations will not give their light. 1 The sun will be darkened even from dawn, and the moon will not shine. 1
11I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. 1 I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud and will bring down the arrogance of the ruthless. 1
12I will make men more rare than fine gold and mankind harder to find than the pure gold of Ophir. 1
13Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, 1 by the fury of Yahweh of hosts, and on the day of his fierce anger. 1
14Like a hunted gazelle or like a sheep with no shepherd, 1 every man will turn toward his own people and will flee to his own land. 1
15Every one who is found will be killed, and every one who is captured will die by the sword. 1
16Their infants also will be dashed in pieces before their eyes. 1 Their houses will be plundered and their wives raped. 1
17Look, I am about to stir up the Medes to attack them, 1 who will not be concerned about silver, nor do they delight in gold. 1
18Their bows will strike down the young men; 1 they will have no mercy on infants and they will not look with pity on children. 1
19Then Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the splendor of Chaldean pride, 1 will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. 1
20It will not be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. 1 The Arab will not pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds have their flocks rest there. 1
21But wild animals of the desert will lie there. Their houses will be full of owls; 1 and ostriches and wild goats will skip about there. 1
22Hyenas will cry in their fortresses, and jackals in the beautiful palaces. Her time is near, and her days will not be delayed.