Get down, sit in the dust, Fair Maiden Babylon; Sit, dethroned, on the ground, O Fair Chaldea; Nevermore shall they call you The tender and dainty one.
I was angry at My people, I defiled My heritage; I put them into your hands, But you showed them no mercy. Even upon the aged you made Your yoke exceedingly heavy.
And now hear this, O pampered one— Who dwell in security, Who think to yourself, “I am, and there is none but me; I shall not become a widow Or know loss of children”—
These two things shall come upon you, Suddenly, in one day: Loss of children and widowhood Shall come upon you in full measure, Despite your many enchantments And all your countless spells.
You were secure in your wickedness; You thought, “No one can see me.” It was your skill and your science That led you astray. And you thought to yourself, “I am, and there is none but me.”
Evil is coming upon you That you will not know how to charm away; Disaster is falling upon you That you will not be able to appease; Coming upon you suddenly Is ruin of which you know nothing.
Stand up, with your spells and your many enchantments On which you labored since youth! Perhaps you’ll be able to profit, Perhaps you will find strength. as a variant of ʻaṣar; cf. 2 Chron. 20.37.
You are helpless, despite all your art. Let them stand up and help you now, The scanners of heaven, the star-gazers, Who announce, month by month, Whatever will come upon you.
See, they are become like straw, Fire consumes them; They cannot save themselves From the power of the flame; This is no coal for warming oneself, No fire to sit by!
