1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor.

2 He cried out in a powerful voice, "Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit,a prison for every unclean bird,and a prison for every uncleanand hated beast.

3 For all the nations have drunkfrom the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her. The merchants of the earth have become richfrom the power of her luxury."

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people,so that you don't participate in her sinsand suffer from her plagues.

5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,and God has remembered her crimes.

6 Do to her as she herself has done.Give her double for her deeds. Mix a double drink for her in the cup she mixed.

7 Just as she glorified herself and lived in luxury,so give her just as much torture and misery. In her heart she says,‘I am a queen on a throne, not a widow.I will never see misery.’

8 For this reason her plagues of death, misery, and famine will come in a single day. She will be burned up in a fire,because powerful is the Lord God who judges her."

9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her, will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rising from her fire.

10 Frightened by her torture, they will stand far away and say, "How terrible, how terrible it is for that great city,the powerful city Babylon!For in one hour your judgment has come!"

11 The merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore—

12 cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all articles made of ivory, all articles made of very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble,

13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves (that is, human souls).

14 "The fruit for which your soul craved has left you.All your dainties and your splendor are lost to you. No one will ever find them again."

15 Frightened by her torture, the merchants of these wares who had become rich from her will stand far away. They will cry and mourn,

16 saying, "How terrible, how terrible it is for the great citythat was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarletand was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls!

17 For in one hour all this wealth has been destroyed!"Every ship's captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made a living by the sea stood far away.

18 When they saw the smoke from her fire, they began to cry out, "What city was like the great city?"

19 Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning, "How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city,where all who had ships at sea became richbecause of her wealth! For in one hour she has been destroyed!

20 Gloat over her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets!For God has condemned her for you."

21 Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "The great city Babylon will be thrown down with violent force—and will never be found again.

22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeterswill never be heard in you again. No artisan of any tradewill ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstonewill never be heard in you again.

23 The light from a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of a bridegroom and bridewill never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the important people of the world,and all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.

24 The blood of prophets, saints, and all who had been murderedon earth was found in her."