New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 A prophecy against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
1
The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.
2
On a bare hill raise a signal, cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles.
3 I have commanded those I prepared for battle; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath— those who rejoice in my triumph.
3
I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, my proudly exulting ones.
4 Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.
4
Hark, a tumult on the mountains as of a great multitude! Hark, an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle.
5 They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.
5
They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth.
6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
6
Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!
7 Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear.
7
Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every man's heart will melt,
8 Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.
8
and they will be dismayed. Pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in travail. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.
9 See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.
9
Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.
10
For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising and the moon will not shed its light.
11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.
11
I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless.
12 I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.
12
I will make men more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.
13
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.
14 Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, they will all return to their own people, they will flee to their native land.
14
And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, every man will turn to his own people, and every man will flee to his own land.
15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword.
15
Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated.
16
Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished.
17 See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold.
17
Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.
18 Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children.
18
Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.
19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians,will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chalde'ans, will be like Sodom and Gomor'rah when God overthrew them.
20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; there no nomads will pitch their tents, there no shepherds will rest their flocks.
20
It will never be inhabited or dwelt in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
21 But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about.
21
But wild beasts will lie down there, and its houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there satyrs will dance.
22 Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.
22
Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.