1The prophecy regarding the destruction of Babylon that Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw. 2Raise a banner (signal flag) on the high mountain top, encourage those that march into the palaces of the high and mighty. “3I have commanded My sanctified ones, I have also summoned My warriors to carry out My wrath, those that rejoice when in I am exalted.” 4Listen, hear the noise of a multitude in the mountains, like the uproar of many nations massed together. The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war. 5They come from faraway lands, from the ends of heavens - the LORD, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7Because of this, all hands shall go limp; and every man's heart shall melt with fear; 8And they shall be terrified. Pain and anguish shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain like a woman in labor. They shall be astonished and look aghast at one another; their faces aflame with fear. 9See, the day of the LORD is coming - a cruel day with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and to destroy the sinners within it. 10For the stars of heaven and their constellations shall not give their light; the sun, when it rises, shall be darkened and the moon shall not give its light. 11“And I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their sins; and I will put an end to the arrogance of the prideful, and will humble the haughtiness of the violent. 12I will make people scarcer than fine gold; rarer than a gold wedge of Ophir. 13Therefore, I will make the heavens shake, and move the earth out of its place, when I, the LORD Almighty display My fierce anger. 14Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep with no shepherd, they shall return to their own people, and flee to their native land. 15Whoever is captured shall be thrust through; they shall fall by the sword. 16Their infants shall also be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be looted, and their wives ravished. 17Behold, I will stir up the Medes, who do not regard silver; nor value gold.” 18Their bows shall also shoot the young men, and they shall have no compassion for, and not spare, children. 19Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and beauty of the Chaldeans, shall be overthrown as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20Babylon shall never be inhabited, nor shall any dwell in it from generation to generation; nor shall the Arabians (nomads) pitch their tents there; nor shall the shepherds bed their sheep there. 21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; jackals and owls shall reside in their houses, and wild goats shall dance there. 22Hyenas and other wild beasts will occupy its palaces and fortresses. Her time is at hand, and her days shall not be extended.