Isaiah 13:1-22 CSB

[1] A pronouncement concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw: [2] Lift up a banner on a barren mountain. Call out to them. Signal with your hand, and they will go through the gates of the nobles. [3] I have commanded my consecrated ones; yes, I have called my warriors, who celebrate my triumph, to execute my wrath. [4] Listen, a commotion on the mountains, like that of a mighty people! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations being gathered together! The LORD of Armies is mobilizing an army for war. [5] They are coming from a distant land, from the farthest horizon- the LORD and the weapons of his wrath- to destroy the whole country. [6] Wail! For the day of the LORD is near. It will come as destruction from the Almighty. [7] Therefore everyone's hands will become weak, and every man will lose heart. [8] They will be horrified; pain and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look at each other, their faces flushed with fear. [9] Look, the day of the LORD is coming- cruel, with fury and burning anger- to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners. [10] Indeed, the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shine. [11] I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their iniquities. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant and humiliate the insolence of tyrants. [12] I will make a human more scarce than fine gold, and mankind more rare than the gold of Ophir. [13] Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will shake from its foundations at the wrath of the LORD of Armies, on the day of his burning anger. [14] Like wandering gazelles and like sheep without a shepherd, each one will turn to his own people, each one will flee to his own land. [15] Whoever is found will be stabbed, and whoever is caught will die by the sword. [16] Their children will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted, and their wives raped. [17] Look! I am stirring up the Medes against them, who cannot be bought off with silver and who have no desire for gold. [18] Their bows will cut young men to pieces. They will have no compassion on offspring; they will not look with pity on children. [19] And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. [20] It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; a nomad will not pitch his tent there, and shepherds will not let their flocks rest there. [21] But desert creatures will lie down there, and owls will fill the houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. [22] Hyenas will howl in the fortresses, and jackals, in the luxurious palaces. Babylon's time is almost up; her days are almost over.