Isaiah 47
47
Babylon Will Fall
The Lord said:
1 #
Is 13.1—14.23; Jr 50.1—51.64. City of Babylon,
You are delicate
and untouched,
but that will change.
Surrender your royal power
and sit in the dirt.
2Start grinding grain!
Take off your veil.
Strip off your fancy clothes
and wade across rivers.#47.2 Strip … rivers: This may be a command to get ready for work that requires wading in the river, or it may be a warning that they are going to be taken away as slaves.
3You will suffer the shame
of going naked,
because I will take revenge,
and no one can escape.#47.3 escape: Or “oppose me.”
4I am the Lord All-Powerful,
the holy God of Israel.
I am their Savior.
5Babylon, be silent!
Sit in the dark.
No longer will nations
accept you as their queen.
6I was angry with my people.
So I let you take their land
and bring disgrace on them.
You showed them no mercy,
but were especially cruel
to those who were old.
7You thought that you
would be queen forever.
You didn't care what you did;
it never entered your mind
that you might get caught.
8 #
Rev 18.7,8. You think that you alone
are all-powerful,
that you won't be a widow
or lose your children.
All you care about is pleasure,
but listen to what I say.
9Your magic powers and charms
will suddenly fail,
then you will be a widow
and lose your children.
10You hid behind evil
like a shield and said,
“No one can see me!”
You were fooled by your wisdom
and your knowledge;
you felt sure that you alone
were in full control.
11But without warning,
disaster will strike—
and your magic charms
won't help at all.
12Keep using your magic powers
and your charms
as you have always done.
Maybe—just maybe—
you will frighten somebody!
13You have worn yourself out,
asking for advice
from those who study the stars
and tell the future
month after month.
Go ask them how to be saved
from what will happen.
14People who trust the stars
are as helpless as straw
in a flaming fire.
No one can even keep warm,#47.14 keep warm: Or “cook food.”
sitting by a fire
that feeds only on straw.
15These are the fortunetellers
you have done business with
all of your life.
But they don't know
where they are going,
and they can't save you.
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Isaiah 47: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 47
47
Babylon’s Fall
1Come down and sit on the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon!
Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of Chaldea!
For they shall no longer call#Literally “you shall not add they shall call to” you tender and delicate.
2Take the pair of mill stones and grind flour!
Uncover your veil,
strip off your skirt,
uncover your thigh,
pass through the rivers!
3Your nakedness shall be exposed;
indeed, your shame shall become visible.
I will take vengeance
and I will not spare#Literally “plead with” a person.
4Our redeemer, Yahweh of hosts is his name, the holy one of Israel.
5Sit silently and go into the darkness, daughter of Chaldea,
for they shall no longer call#Literally “you shall not add they shall call to” you mistress of kingdoms.
6I was angry with my people;
I profaned my inheritance,
and I gave them into your hand.
You did not give#Literally “set up” them mercy;
on the aged you made your yoke very heavy.
7And you said, “I shall be an eternal mistress forever!”
You did not set these things upon your heart;
you did not remember its end.
8Therefore now hear this, luxuriant one who sits#Or “sitting” in security,
who says#Or “saying” in her heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one.
I shall not sit as a widow,
and I shall not know the loss of children.”
9And these two shall come to you in a moment, in one day:
the loss of children and widowhood shall come on you completely,#Literally “as their fullness”
in spite of your many sorceries,
in spite of the power of your great enchantments.
10And you felt secure in your wickedness;
you said, “No one#Literally “none” sees#Or “is seeing” me.”
Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one.”
11And evil shall come upon you, you will not know;
it will be on the lookout for her.
And disaster shall fall upon you; you will not be able to avert#Literally “make amends” it.
And ruin shall come on you suddenly; you do not know.
12Stand, now, in your enchantments,
and in your many sorceries with which you have labored from your youth.
Perhaps you may be able to benefit;
perhaps you may scare away.#Literally “terrify”
13You struggle with your many consultations;#Or “advice”
let them stand, now, and save you—
those who see the stars, divide the celestial sphere,#Literally “heavens,” that is, for astrology
who inform by new moons—
from those things that are coming upon you.
14Look! They are like stubble;
the fire burns them completely.
They cannot deliver themselves#Literally “their lives” from the power#Literally “hand” of the flame;
there is no coal for warming oneself,#Literally “to grow warm”
no fire before which to sit.
15So are to you those with whom you have labored,
your traders from your youth.
They wander, each to his side;
there is no one who can save you.
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