Revelation 18 – NIRV & CCBT

New International Reader’s Version

Revelation 18:1-24

Weeping When Babylon Falls

1After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority. His glory filled the earth with light. 2With a mighty voice he shouted,

“ ‘Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!’ (Isaiah 21:9)

She has become a place where demons live.

She has become a den for every evil spirit.

She has become a place where every ‘unclean’ bird is found.

She has become a place where every ‘unclean’ and hated animal is found.

3All the nations have drunk

the strong wine of her terrible sins.

The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways.

The traders of the world grew rich from her great wealth.”

Warning to Run From Babylon’s Judgment

4Then I heard another voice from heaven. It said,

“ ‘Come out of her, my people.’ (Jeremiah 51:45)

Then you will not take part in her sins.

You will not suffer from any of her plagues.

5Her sins are piled up to heaven.

God has remembered her crimes.

6Do to her as she has done to others.

Pay her back double for what she has done.

Pour her a double dose of what she has poured for others.

7Give her as much pain and suffering

as the glory and wealth she gave herself.

She brags to herself,

‘I rule on a throne like a queen.

I am not a widow.

I will never mourn.’ (Isaiah 47:7,8)

8But she will be plagued by death, sadness and hunger.

In a single day she will suffer all these plagues.

She will be burned up by fire.

That’s because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.

How Terrible When Babylon Falls!

9“The kings of the earth who committed terrible sins with her will weep. They will mourn because they used to share her riches. They will see the smoke rising as she burns. 10They will be terrified by her suffering. They will stand far away from her. And they will cry out,

“ ‘How terrible! How terrible it is for you, great city!

How terrible for you, mighty city of Babylon!

In just one hour you have been destroyed!’

11“The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her. No one buys what they sell anymore. 12Here is what they had for sale.

“Gold, silver, jewels, pearls.

Fine linen, purple, silk, bright red cloth.

Every kind of citron wood.

All sorts of things made out of ivory, valuable wood, bronze, iron, marble.

13Cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense.

Wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat.

Cattle, sheep, horses, carriages, and human beings sold as slaves.

14“The merchants will say, ‘The pleasure you longed for has left you. All your riches and glory have disappeared forever.’ 15The traders who sold these things became rich because of Babylon. When she suffers, they will stand far away. Her suffering will terrify them. They will weep and mourn. 16They will cry out,

“ ‘How terrible! How terrible it is for you, great city,

dressed in fine linen, purple and bright red!

How terrible for you, great city, gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls!

17In just one hour your great wealth has been destroyed!’

“Every sea captain and all who travel by ship will stand far away. So will the sailors and all who earn their living from the sea. 18They will see the smoke rising as Babylon burns. They will ask, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ 19They will throw dust on their heads. They will weep and mourn. They will cry out,

“ ‘How terrible! How terrible it is for you, great city!

All who had ships on the sea

became rich because of her wealth!

In just one hour she has been destroyed!’

20“You heavens, be glad for this!

You people of God, be glad!

You apostles and prophets, be glad!

God has judged her

with the judgment she gave to you.”

Babylon’s Judgment Is Final

21Then a mighty angel picked up a huge rock. It was the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea. Then he said,

“That is how

the great city of Babylon will be thrown down.

Never again will it be found.

22The songs of musicians will never be heard in you again.

Gone will be the music of harps, flutes and trumpets.

No worker of any kind

will ever be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in you again.

23The light of a lamp

will never shine in you again.

The voices of brides and grooms

will never be heard in you again.

Your traders were among the world’s most important people.

By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.

24You were guilty of the murder of prophets and God’s holy people.

You were guilty of the blood of all who have been killed on the earth.”

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

啟示錄 18:1-24

巴比倫的下場

1之後,我看見另一位執掌大權的天使從天降下,他的榮光照亮了大地。 2他用強有力的聲音喊著說:

巴比倫大城倒塌了!倒塌了!

她成了鬼魔的住處、

各樣污鬼的監獄和一切可憎的不潔鳥獸的牢籠!

3因為列國都被她荒淫的烈酒灌醉了。

地上的君王曾經與她通姦,

地上的商人也因她窮奢極侈的生活而發了財。」

4我聽見天上又有一個聲音說:

「我的子民啊,離開那城,

以免沾染她的罪惡,

受她所受的災禍。

5因為她已經罪惡滔天,

上帝沒有忘記她一切的不義。

6她怎樣待人,

你們也要怎樣待她,

要按她所做的加倍地報應她,

用她調酒的杯加倍地調給她喝。

7她過去怎樣自炫自耀、

奢華荒淫,

現在也要讓她怎樣痛苦哀傷。

因為她心裡說,

『我貴為女王,不是寡婦,

絕不會經歷哀傷。』

8所以在一天之內,

她的災禍,就是死亡、

哀傷和饑荒要同時臨到她身上。

她要被火燒盡,

因為審判她的主上帝能力偉大。

9「那些曾與她通姦享樂的君王目睹焚燒她的煙,必為她哭泣哀號。 10他們對她所受的災禍充滿恐懼,就遠遠地站著說,

『強大堅固的巴比倫城啊,

真悲慘!真悲慘!

因為審判頃刻間臨到你了。』

11「地上的商人也為她哀傷,因為再也沒有人購買他們的貨物了。 12他們的金、銀、寶石、珍珠、細麻布、紫布、絲綢、朱紅布、各樣香木、象牙器具,貴重木材、銅、鐵、大理石製品, 13以及肉桂、荳蔻、香料、香膏、乳香、酒、油、細麵粉、小麥、牛、羊、馬、車、僕婢和人口都沒有人購買了。 14他們呼喊,『巴比倫啊!你貪愛的美物已離你而去了,一切珍饈百味、奢侈華麗的東西都消失殆盡,無影無蹤。』

15「靠販賣這些貨物給她而致富的商人對她所受的災禍充滿恐懼,就站在遠處為她哀傷哭號, 16說,『身穿紫色和朱紅色的細麻布衣服,以黃金、寶石、珍珠為裝飾的大城啊,真悲慘!真悲慘! 17因為頃刻間你這一切的繁華都化為烏有了。』所有船主、乘客、水手及靠海為生的人都遠遠地站著, 18看見燒她的煙,就說,『有哪一座城能與她相比呢?』 19他們又把塵土撒在頭上,哀傷哭泣,喊著說,

『這大城啊,真悲慘!真悲慘!

所有經營航運的都因她的奢華而發了財,

可是頃刻間她卻淪為廢墟了!』

20上天啊,

眾聖徒、眾使徒和眾先知啊,

為她的下場歡樂吧!

因為上帝已經向她施行報應,

為你們伸冤了。」

21這時,有一位大力天使舉起一塊像大磨石的石頭扔進海裡,說:

巴比倫大城也必這樣被用力扔下去,

消失得無影無蹤。

22在你那裡,

再也聽不見彈琴作樂、

鳴笛吹號的聲音了,

再也找不到能工巧匠了,

再也聽不到推磨的聲音了,

23再也看不到閃耀的燈光了,

再也聽不見新婚夫婦的歡笑聲了。

因為你的商人曾經趾高氣揚,

你的邪術曾經迷惑萬國,

24你的城牆內流滿了眾先知、

眾聖徒和地上一切被殺之人的血。」