預言審判巴比倫
1以下是亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞得到有關巴比倫的預言：
2要在光禿的山頂上豎立旗幟，
向戰士高呼，
揮手示意他們進攻貴族居住的城。
3我已向我揀選的士兵發出命令，
我已號召我的勇士去傾倒我的烈怒，
他們因我的勝利而歡喜。
4聽啊，山上人聲鼎沸，
像是大軍的聲音。
那是列邦列國聚集呐喊的聲音。
萬軍之耶和華正在召集軍隊，
準備作戰。
5他們從地極，從天邊而來。
那是耶和華及傾倒祂烈怒的兵器，
要來毀滅大地。
6哀號吧！
耶和華的日子近了，
全能者施行毀滅的時候到了。
7人們都必雙手發軟，膽戰心驚，
8驚恐萬狀，
痛苦不堪如同分娩的婦人。
他們必面面相覷，
羞愧得面如火燒。
9看啊，耶和華的日子來臨了，
是充滿憤恨和烈怒的殘酷之日，
要使大地荒涼，
毀滅地上的罪人。
10天上的星辰不再發光，
太陽剛出來就變黑，
月亮也暗淡無光。
11我必懲罰這罪惡的世界，
懲治邪惡的世人，
制止驕橫之人的狂妄，
壓下殘暴之徒的驕傲。
12我必使人比精煉的金子還稀少，
比俄斐的純金更罕見。
13我萬軍之耶和華發烈怒的日子，
必震動諸天，
搖撼大地。
14人們都投奔親族，
逃回故鄉，
好像被追趕的鹿，
又如走散的羊。
15被捉住的人都會被刺死，
被逮住的人都會喪身刀下。
16他們的嬰孩將被摔死在他們眼前，
家園遭劫掠，
妻子被蹂躪。
17看啊，我要驅使瑪代人來攻擊他們。
瑪代人不在乎金子，
也不看重銀子，
18他們必用弓箭射死青年，
不憐憫嬰兒，
也不顧惜孩童。
19巴比倫在列國中輝煌無比，
是迦勒底人的榮耀，
但上帝必毀滅她，
好像毀滅所多瑪和蛾摩拉一樣。
20那裡必人煙絕跡，
世世代代無人居住，
沒有阿拉伯人在那裡支搭帳篷，
也無人牧放羊群。
21那裡躺臥著曠野的走獸，
咆哮的猛獸佔滿房屋；
鴕鳥住在那裡，
野山羊在那裡跳躍嬉戲。
22豺狼在城樓上嚎叫，
野狗在宮殿裡狂吠。
巴比倫的結局近了，
它的時候不多了！
1The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.13.4 like…: Heb. the likeness of 5They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:13.7 be faint: or, fall down 8And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.13.8 be amazed: Heb. wonder13.8 one…: Heb. every man at his neighbour13.8 flames: Heb. faces of the flames 9Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. 15Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. 16Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. 17Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. 18Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
19¶ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.13.19 as…: Heb. as the overthrowing 20It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.13.21 wild…: Heb. Ziim13.21 doleful…: Heb. Ochim13.21 owls: or, ostriches: Heb. daughters of the owl 22And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.13.22 the wild…: Heb. Iim13.22 desolate…: or, palaces
