13:1 An oracle concerning Babylon; a vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz.
13:2 Upon the bare mountains set up a signal; cry out to them, Wave for them to enter the gates of the volunteers.
13:3 I have commanded my dedicated soldiers, I have summoned my warriors, eager and bold to carry out my anger.
13:4 Listen! the rumble on the mountains: that of an immense throng! Listen! the noise of kingdoms, nations assembled! The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle.
13:5 They come from a far-off country, and from the end of the heavens, The LORD and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy all the land.
13:6 Howl, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
13:7 Therefore all hands fall helpless, the bows of the young men fall from their hands. Every man’s heart melts
13:8 in terror. Pangs and sorrows take hold of them, like a woman in labor they writhe; They look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.
13:9 Lo, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and burning anger; To lay waste the land and destroy the sinners within it!
13:10 The stars and constellations of the heavens send forth no light; The sun is dark when it rises, and the light of the moon does not shine.
13:11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their guilt. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, the insolence of tyrants I will humble.
13:12 I will make mortals more rare than pure gold, men, than gold of Ophir.
13:13 For this I will make the heavens tremble and the earth shall be shaken from its place, At the wrath of the LORD of hosts on the day of his burning anger.
13:14 Like a hunted gazelle, or a flock that no one gathers, Every man shall turn to his kindred and flee to his own land.
13:15 Everyone who is caught shall be run through; to a man, they shall fall by the sword.
13:16 Their infants shall be dashed to pieces in their sight; their houses shall be plundered and their wives ravished.
13:17 I am stirring up against them the Medes, who think nothing of silver and take no delight in gold.
13:18 The fruit of the womb they shall not spare, nor shall they have eyes of pity for children.
13:19 And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory and pride of the Chaldeans, Shall be overthrown by God like Sodom and like Gomorrah.
13:20 She shall never be inhabited, nor dwelt in, from age to age; The Arab shall not pitch his tent there, nor shepherds couch their flocks.
13:21 But wildcats shall rest there and owls shall fill the houses; There ostriches shall dwell, and satyrs shall dance.
13:22 Desert beasts shall howl in her castles, and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is near at hand and her days shall not be prolonged.