17. All these riches have been destroyed in one hour!”Every sea captain, every passenger, the sailors, and all those who earn their living from the sea stood far away from Babylon.
18. As they saw the smoke from her burning, they cried out loudly, “There was never a city like this great city!”
19. And they threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and being sad. They said:“Terrible! How terrible for the great city!All the people who had ships on the seabecame rich because of her wealth!But she has been destroyed in one hour!
20. Be happy because of this, heaven!Be happy, God’s holy people and apostles and prophets!God has punished her because of what she did to you.”
21. Then a powerful angel picked up a large stone, like one used for grinding grain, and threw it into the sea. He said:“In the same way, the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,and it will never be found again.
22. The music of people playing harps and other instruments, flutes, and trumpets,will never be heard in you again.No workman doing any jobwill ever be found in you again.The sound of grinding grainwill never be heard in you again.
23. The light of a lampwill never shine in you again,and the voices of a bridegroom and bridewill never be heard in you again.Your merchants were the world’s great people,and all the nations were tricked by your magic.
24. You are guilty of the death of the prophets and God’s holy peopleand all who have been killed on earth.”