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13 The massa (burden) of Bavel (Babylon), which Yeshayah Ben Amotz did see.

Lift ye up a nes upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the yad, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

I have commanded My Mekuddash, I have also summoned My Gibbor for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My highness.

The noise of a hamon (multitude) in the harim (mountains), like as of an Am Rav; a tumultuous noise of the mamlechot (kingdoms) of Goyim gathered together; Hashem Tzva’os mustereth the Tzava (army) of the milchamah (battle, war).

They come from an eretz merchak (a far country), from the end of Shomayim, Hashem, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy Kol HaAretz.

Wail ye; for the Yom Hashem is karov (near); it shall come like shod (sudden destruction) from Shaddai.

Therefore shall kol yadayim (all hands) fall weak, and kol levav enosh shall melt;

And they shall be afraid; pangs and chavalim (pains) shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain like a woman that travaileth in childbirth; one shall be aghast at his re’a; their faces shall be like flaming visages.

Hinei, the Yom Hashem cometh, cruel both with wrath and charon af (fierce anger), to lay the land desolate; and He shall destroy the chatta’im (sinners) thereof out of it.

10 For the kokhavim of Shomayim and the constellations thereof shall not give their ohr (light); the shemesh shall be darkened in its rising and the yarei’ach shall not cause its ohr to shine.

11 And I will punish the tevel (world) for ra’ah, and the resha’im for their avon (iniquity); and I will cause the ga’on (arrogance) of the proud to cease, and will lay low the ga’avah (pride) of the tyrant.

12 I will make enosh more rare than rare gold; even adam than the gold of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will shake Shomayim, and Ha’Aretz (the Earth) shall move out of her makom (place), in the evrat Hashem Tzva’os, and in His Yom Charon Af.

14 And it shall be like deer chased, and like tzon not gathered; each ish turning to his people, and each fleeing to his own land.

15 Every one that is found yidaker (shall be pierced through, see Zech 12:10 for this same word and Moshiach); and every one that is caught shall fall by the cherev.

16 Their olelim (infants) also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their batim (houses) shall be looted, and their nashim ravished.

17 Hineni, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard kesef; and as for zahav, they shall not delight in it.

18 Their keshatot (bows) also shall tear ne’arim (young men) to pieces; and they shall have no rachamim on the pri beten (fruit of the womb); their eyes shall not pity banim.

19 And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the tiferet ga’on Kasdim, shall be as when Elohim overthrew S’dom and Amora (Gomorrah).

20 Lo lanetzach (not ever) shall it be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in ad dor vador; neither shall the Arab pitch ohel there; neither shall the ro’im rest their flock there.

21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their batim (houses) shall be full of owls; and ostriches shall dwell there, and demons shall dance there.

22 And the wild beasts shall howl in their strongholds, and jackals in their heichalot (palaces) of oneg (delight); and her (Babylon’s) time is karov (near, at hand) to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

A Prophecy Against Babylon

13 A prophecy(A) against Babylon(B) that Isaiah son of Amoz(C) saw:(D)

Raise a banner(E) on a bare hilltop,
    shout to them;
beckon to them
    to enter the gates(F) of the nobles.
I have commanded those I prepared for battle;
    I have summoned my warriors(G) to carry out my wrath(H)
    those who rejoice(I) in my triumph.

Listen, a noise on the mountains,
    like that of a great multitude!(J)
Listen, an uproar(K) among the kingdoms,
    like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty(L) is mustering(M)
    an army for war.
They come from faraway lands,
    from the ends of the heavens(N)
the Lord and the weapons(O) of his wrath(P)
    to destroy(Q) the whole country.

Wail,(R) for the day(S) of the Lord is near;
    it will come like destruction(T) from the Almighty.[a](U)
Because of this, all hands will go limp,(V)
    every heart will melt with fear.(W)
Terror(X) will seize them,
    pain and anguish will grip(Y) them;
    they will writhe like a woman in labor.(Z)
They will look aghast at each other,
    their faces aflame.(AA)

See, the day(AB) of the Lord is coming
    —a cruel(AC) day, with wrath(AD) and fierce anger(AE)
to make the land desolate
    and destroy the sinners within it.
10 The stars of heaven and their constellations
    will not show their light.(AF)
The rising sun(AG) will be darkened(AH)
    and the moon will not give its light.(AI)
11 I will punish(AJ) the world for its evil,
    the wicked(AK) for their sins.
I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty(AL)
    and will humble(AM) the pride of the ruthless.(AN)
12 I will make people(AO) scarcer than pure gold,
    more rare than the gold of Ophir.(AP)
13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;(AQ)
    and the earth will shake(AR) from its place
at the wrath(AS) of the Lord Almighty,
    in the day of his burning anger.(AT)

14 Like a hunted(AU) gazelle,
    like sheep without a shepherd,(AV)
they will all return to their own people,
    they will flee(AW) to their native land.(AX)
15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through;
    all who are caught will fall(AY) by the sword.(AZ)
16 Their infants(BA) will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;
    their houses will be looted and their wives violated.(BB)

17 See, I will stir up(BC) against them the Medes,(BD)
    who do not care for silver
    and have no delight in gold.(BE)
18 Their bows(BF) will strike down the young men;(BG)
    they will have no mercy(BH) on infants,
    nor will they look with compassion on children.(BI)
19 Babylon,(BJ) the jewel of kingdoms,(BK)
    the pride and glory(BL) of the Babylonians,[b]
will be overthrown(BM) by God
    like Sodom and Gomorrah.(BN)
20 She will never be inhabited(BO)
    or lived in through all generations;
there no nomads(BP) will pitch their tents,
    there no shepherds will rest their flocks.
21 But desert creatures(BQ) will lie there,
    jackals(BR) will fill her houses;
there the owls(BS) will dwell,
    and there the wild goats(BT) will leap about.
22 Hyenas(BU) will inhabit her strongholds,(BV)
    jackals(BW) her luxurious palaces.
Her time is at hand,(BX)
    and her days will not be prolonged.(BY)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 13:6 Hebrew Shaddai
  2. Isaiah 13:19 Or Chaldeans