Isaiah 47

Babylon’s Fall

¹Come down and sit on the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon!

For they shall no longer call you tender and delicate.

Uncover your veil,

uncover your thigh,

³Your nakedness shall be exposed;

I will take vengeance

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

⁵Sit silently and go into the darkness, daughter of Chaldea,

⁶I was angry with my people;

and I gave them into your hand.

on the aged you made your yoke very heavy.

You did not set these things upon your heart;

⁸Therefore now hear this, luxuriant one who sits in security,[#Or “sitting”]

I shall not sit as a widow,

⁹And these two shall come to you in a moment, in one day:

in spite of your many sorceries,

¹⁰And you felt secure in your wickedness;

Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,

¹¹And evil shall come upon you, you will not know;

And disaster shall fall upon you; you will not be able to avert it.

¹²Stand, now, in your enchantments,

Perhaps you may be able to benefit;

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

those who see the stars, divide the celestial sphere,

¹⁴Look! They are like stubble;

there is no coal for warming oneself,

¹⁵So are to you those with whom you have labored,

They wander, each to his side;