Isaiah 13 :: New International Version (NIV)

A Prophecy Against Babylon

Isa 13:1A prophecy against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:

Isa 13:2Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.

Isa 13:3I have commanded those I prepared for battle; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath— those who rejoice in my triumph.

Isa 13:4

Isa 13:4Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.

Isa 13:5

Isa 13:5They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.

Isa 13:6

Isa 13:6Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.[fn]

Isa 13:7

Isa 13:7Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear.

Isa 13:8

Isa 13:8Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.

Isa 13:9

Isa 13:9See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

Isa 13:10

Isa 13:10The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.

Isa 13:11

Isa 13:11I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

Isa 13:12

Isa 13:12I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.

Isa 13:13

Isa 13:13Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.

Isa 13:14

Isa 13:14Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, they will all return to their own people, they will flee to their native land.

Isa 13:15

Isa 13:15Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword.

Isa 13:16

Isa 13:16Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated.

Isa 13:17

Isa 13:17See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold.

Isa 13:18

Isa 13:18Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children.

Isa 13:19

Isa 13:19Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians,[fn] will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isa 13:20

Isa 13:20She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; there no nomads will pitch their tents, there no shepherds will rest their flocks.

Isa 13:21

Isa 13:21But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about.

Isa 13:22

Isa 13:22Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.