Isaiah 13

The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

This is the solemn message of judgement against Babylon that Isaiah, Amoz's son, saw.

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.

Raise a flag on the highest peak, shout out to them, wave your hand, so they can enter the noble's gates.

I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.

I have instructed my chosen ones, summoned my strong ones to express my wrath, even those who take joy in my greatness.

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.

The sound of many voices echoes from the mountains, like a vast crowd gathering. The uproar of nations joining forces fills the air. The LORD, the commander of armies, is preparing his troops for battle.

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.

From distant lands and the farthest corners of the heavens, they arrive: the Lord and the weapons of his wrath, coming to destroy the whole land.

Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Cry out in fear, for the day of the Lord is near. It will arrive like a devastating storm from the Almighty.

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:

Thus, all strength will fade, and every person's courage will dissolve.

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.

They will be gripped by fear, overwhelmed by distress and pain, like a woman in labor. They will stare at each other in shock, their faces burning with intensity.

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.

Watch out, God's day is coming, filled with harsh anger and intense fury, ready to leave the land barren. He will wipe out all wrongdoers from it.

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.

The stars and constellations will lose their glow, the sun will dim as it rises, and the moon will no longer share its light.

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.

I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their sins. I will silence the boastful and humble the fearsome.

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

I will make people scarcer than the purest gold, rarer even than the famed gold of Ophir.

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.

In His profound anger, God will stir the heavens and the earth will be uprooted from its place.

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.

Like a frightened deer or a lost sheep, everyone will run back to their own people, seeking refuge in their homeland.

Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

Anyone discovered will be pierced; those associated with them will succumb to the sword.

Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

Their children will be dashed to pieces right before their eyes; their homes will be looted, and their wives violated.

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.

Watch out, I will rouse the Medes against them, a people who won't be swayed by silver or charmed by gold.

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.

Their weapons will ruthlessly shatter the lives of young men; they will show no mercy to the unborn, their gaze will be void of compassion for children.

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

Babylon, once the crown jewel of all kingdoms and the pride of the Chaldees, will meet the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah did under God's wrath.

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.

No one will ever live there again, not for generations to come. Not even the Arabian nomads will set up camp, nor will shepherds rest their flocks there.

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.

In that desolate place, wild animals will make their home, filled with sorrowful beings. Owls will nest there, and mythical creatures will frolic.

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.

The lonely creatures of the wilderness will weep in their abandoned homes, and dragons in their once joyful castles. Her end is swiftly approaching, and her days will not be extended.