Isaiah 13:1-22 NIV

Isaiah 13:1-22 NIV [1] A prophecy against Babylon that Isaiah 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. [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. [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. [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. [6] Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. [7] Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. [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. [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. [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. [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. [12] I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare 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. [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. [15] Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are 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. [17] See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no 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. [19] Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. [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. [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. [22] Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

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