Babylon will fall

The LORD said:

1City of Babylon,47.1-15: Is 13.1—14.23; Jr 50.1—51.64.

you are delicate

and untouched,

but that will change.

Surrender your royal power

and sit in the dust.

2Start grinding grain!

Take off your veil.

Strip off your fine clothes

and cross over 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 Saviour.

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 for ever.

You didn't care what you did;

it never entered your mind

that you might get caught.

8You think that you alone47.8,9: Rev 18.7,8.

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.

Perhaps—just perhaps—

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 and 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 fortune-tellers

you have done business with

all your life.

But they don't know

where they are going,

and they can't save you.