Isaiah 47

Babylon’s Fall

1Come down and sit on the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon!
Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of Chaldea!
For ⌞they shall no longer call⌟
Literally “you shall not add they shall call to”
you tender and delicate.
2Take the pair of mill stones and grind flour!
Uncover your veil,
strip off your skirt,
uncover your thigh,
pass through the rivers!
3Your nakedness shall be exposed;
indeed, your shame shall become visible.
I will take vengeance
and I will not ⌞spare⌟
Literally “plead with”
a person.

4Our redeemer, Yahweh of hosts is his name, the holy one of Israel.

5Sit silently and go into the darkness, daughter of Chaldea,
for ⌞they shall no longer call⌟
Literally “you shall not add they shall call to”
you mistress of kingdoms.
6I was angry with my people;
I profaned my inheritance,
and I gave them into your hand.
You did not ⌞give⌟
Literally “set up”
them mercy;
on the aged you made your yoke very heavy.
7And you said, “I shall be an eternal mistress forever!”
You did not set these things upon your heart;
you did not remember its end.
8Therefore now hear this, luxuriant one who sits
Or “sitting”
in security,
who says
Or “saying”
in her heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one.
I shall not sit as a widow,
and I shall not know the loss of children.”
9And these two shall come to you in a moment, in one day:
the loss of children and widowhood shall come on you ⌞completely⌟,
Literally “as their fullness”

in spite of your many sorceries,
in spite of the power of your great enchantments.
10And you felt secure in your wickedness;
you said, “⌞No one⌟
Literally “none”
sees
Or “is seeing”
me.”
Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart, “I am, and besides me there is no one.”
11And evil shall come upon you, you will not know;
it will be on the lookout for her.
And disaster shall fall upon you; you will not be able to ⌞avert⌟
Literally “make amends”
it.
And ruin shall come on you suddenly; you do not know.
12Stand, now, in your enchantments,
and in your many sorceries with which you have labored from your youth.
Perhaps you may be able to benefit;
perhaps you may ⌞scare away⌟.
Literally “terrify”

13You struggle with your many consultations;
Or “advice”

let them stand, now, and save you—
those who see the stars, divide the ⌞celestial sphere⌟,
Literally “heavens,” that is, for astrology

who inform by new moons—
from those things that are coming upon you.
14Look! They are like stubble;
the fire burns them completely.
They cannot deliver ⌞themselves⌟
Literally “their lives”
from the ⌞power⌟
Literally “hand”
of the flame;
there is no coal ⌞for warming oneself⌟,
Literally “to grow warm”

no fire before which to sit.
15So are to you those with whom you have labored,
your traders from your youth.
They wander, each to his side;
there is no one who can save you.
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