>>509996720
Every ship captain and passenger and sailor stood at a distance, together with everyone who does business by traveling on the sea. When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, “This was the greatest city ever!”

They cried loudly, and in their sorrow they threw dust on their heads, as they said,

“Pity the great city
of Babylon!
Everyone who sailed the seas
became rich
from her treasures.
But in a single hour
the city was destroyed.
The heavens should be happy
with God's people
and apostles and prophets.
God has punished her
for them.”

A powerful angel then picked up a huge stone and threw it into the sea. The angel said,

“This is how the great city
of Babylon
will be thrown down,
never to rise again.
The music of harps and singers
and of flutes and trumpets
will no longer be heard.
No workers will ever
set up shop in that city,
and the sound
of grinding grain
will be silenced forever.
Lamps will no longer shine
anywhere in Babylon,
and couples will never again
say wedding vows there.
Her merchants ruled
the earth,
and by her witchcraft
she fooled all nations.
On the streets of Babylon
is found the blood
of God's people
and of his prophets,
and everyone else.”