1 City of Babylon,You are delicateand untouched,but that will change.Surrender your royal powerand sit in the dirt.
2 Start grinding grain!Take off your veil.Strip off your fancy clothesand wade across rivers.
3 You will suffer the shameof going naked,because I will take revenge,and no one can escape.
4 I am the Lord All-Powerful,the holy God of Israel.I am their Savior.
5 Babylon, be silent!Sit in the dark.No longer will nationsaccept you as their queen.
6 I was angry with my people.So I let you take their landand bring disgrace on them.You showed them no mercy,but were especially cruelto those who were old.
7 You thought that youwould be queen forever.You didn't care what you did;it never entered your mindthat you might get caught.
8 You think that you aloneare all-powerful,that you won't be a widowor lose your children.All you care about is pleasure,but listen to what I say.
9 Your magic powers and charmswill suddenly fail,then you will be a widowand lose your children.
10 You hid behind evillike a shield and said,“No one can see me!”You were fooled by your wisdomand your knowledge;you felt sure that you alonewere in full control.
11 But without warning,disaster will strike—and your magic charmswon't help at all.
12 Keep using your magic powersand your charmsas you have always done.Maybe—just maybe—you will frighten somebody!
13 You have worn yourself out,asking for advicefrom those who study the starsand tell the futuremonth after month.Go ask them how to be savedfrom what will happen.
14 People who trust the starsare as helpless as strawin a flaming fire.No one can even keep warm,sitting by a firethat feeds only on straw.
15 These are the fortunetellersyou have done business withall of your life.But they don't knowwhere they are going,and they can't save you.