²³ How is the hammer of the whole earth cut apart and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

²⁰ You are my battle-axe and weapons of war: and with you will I break in pieces the nations; and with you will I destroy kingdoms;

²¹ and with you will I break in pieces the horse and his rider;

²² and with you will I break in pieces the chariot and him who rides therein; and with you will I break in pieces man and woman; and with you will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with you will I break in pieces the young man and the virgin;

²³ and with you will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with you will I break in pieces the farmer and his yoke [of oxen]; and with you will I break in pieces governors and deputies.

²⁴ I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, says Yahweh.

⁴ that you shall take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

⁵ Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers;

⁶ who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.

¹² How you are fallen from heaven, day-star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!

¹³ You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit on the mountain of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;

¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

¹⁵ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.

¹⁶ Those who see you shall gaze at you, they shall consider you, [saying], "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms;

¹⁷ who made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities of it; who didn't let loose his prisoners to their home?"

¹⁶ saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!