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The Revelation
of St. John the Divine
CHAPTER 18. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was full of brightness because of his glory.
2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the prison of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her desires.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Render unto her even as she hath rendered, and repay her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived in wantonness so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall never see sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day: pestilence, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived in wantonness with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas the great city Babylon, the mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all manner of citron wood, and all articles of ivory, and all articles of most precious wood, and of bronze, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and spices, and incense, and perfumes, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas, the great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all them that take their journey in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city was like unto the great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas the great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her wealth! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and ye saints and apostles and prophets; for God hath given judgment for you against her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the sound of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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