The Fall of Babylon

Isaiah 47

Babylon, pictured as a proud virgin daughter of the Chaldeans, is called down from her throne to sit in the dust and grind meal, stripped of her luxury and her claim to be secure forever. Her sorceries and astrologers are declared powerless to save her from sudden loss of children and widowhood.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonCOME down, sit on the ground, O Virgin daughter of Babylon! Sit on the ground, O daughter of the Chaldeans! for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate!

BrentonCome down, sit on the ground, O virgin daughter of Babylon: sit on the ground, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and luxurious.

GreekΚατάβηθι, κάθισον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν παρθένος θυγάτηρ Βαβυλῶνος, κάθισον εἰς τὴν γῆν θυγάτηρ Χαλδαίων, ὅτι οὐκέτι προστεθήσῃ κληθῆναι ἁπαλὴ καὶ τρυφερά.

KJVCome down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

JPSCome down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For thou shalt no more be called Tender and delicate.

ThomsonTake a millstone and grind corn. Doff thy veil; uncover thy grey locks. Make bare thy leg: wade through rivers.

BrentonTake a millstone, grind meal: remove thy veil, uncover thy white hairs, make bare the leg, pass through the rivers.

GreekΛάβε μύλον, ἄλεσον ἄλευρον, ἀποκὸλυψαι τὸ κατακάλυμμά σου, ἀνακάλυψαι τὰς πολιὰς, ἀνάσυρε τὰς κνήμας, διάβηθι ποταμούς.

KJVTake the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

JPSTake the millstones, and grind meal; Remove thy veil, Strip off the train, uncover the leg, Pass through the rivers.

Thomson—

BrentonThy shame shall be uncovered, thy reproaches shall be brought to light: I will exact of thee due vengeance, I will no longer deliver thee to men.

GreekἈνακαλυφθήσεται ἡ αἰσχύνη σου, φανήσονται οἱ ὀνειδισμοί σου· τὸ δίκαιον ἐκ σοῦ λήμψομαι, οὐκέτι μὴ παραδῶ ἀνθρώποις.

KJVThy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

JPSThy nakedness shall be uncovered, Yea, thy shame shall be seen; I will take vengeance, And will let no man intercede.

ThomsonThis vengeance I will take on thy account and no more deliver thee up to men. Thy deliverer is the Lord of Hosts, His name is the Holy One of Israel.

BrentonThy deliverer is the Lord of hosts, the Holy One of Israel is his name.

GreekὉ ῥυσάμενός σε Κύριος σαβαὼθ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἅγιος Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAs for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

JPSOur Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.

ThomsonSit in compunction: enter into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans! thou shalt no more be called the strength of a kingdom.

BrentonSit thou down pierced with woe, go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: thou shalt no more be called the strength of a kingdom.

GreekΚάθισον κατανενυγμένη, εἴσελθε εἰς τὸ σκότος θύγατεηρ Χαλδαίων, οὐκέτι μὴ κληθήσῃ ἰσχὺς βασιλείας.

KJVSit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.

JPSSit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For thou shalt no more be called The mistress of kingdoms.

ThomsonI was angry with My people: thou didst pollute My heritage. I delivered them into thy hand: and thou didst shew them no mercy. The yoke of the aged thou madest very heavy,

BrentonI have been provoked with my people; thou hast defiled mine inheritance: I gave them into thy hand, but thou didst not extend mercy to them: thou madest the yoke of the aged man very heavy,

GreekΠαρωξύνθην ἐπὶ τῷ λαῷ μου, ἐμίανας τὴν κληρονομίαν μου· ἐγὼ ἔδωκα αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν χεῖρά σου, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔδωκας αὐτοῖς ἔλεος, τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου ἐβάρυνας τὸν ζυγὸν σφόδρα,

KJVI was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

JPSI was wroth with My people, I profaned Mine inheritance, And gave them into thy hand; Thou didst show them no mercy; Upon the aged hast thou very heavily Laid thy yoke.

Thomsonand saidst, I shall be empress forever. These things did not enter thy heart; nor didst thou call to mind what might at last befall thee.

Brentonand saidst, I shall be a princess for ever: thou didst not perceive these things in thine heart, nor didst thou remember the latter end.

Greekκαὶ εἶπας, εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἔσομαι ἄρχουσα· οὐκ ἐνόησας ταῦτα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, οὐδὲ ἐμνήσθης τὰ ἔσχατα.

KJVAnd thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

JPSAnd thou saidst: ‘For ever shall I be mistress’; So that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, Neither didst remember the end thereof.

ThomsonNow, therefore, hear these things, thou voluptuary! thou who art seated at ease, who thinkest thyself secure; who sayest in thy heart; I am and there is none else. I shall not sit a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.

BrentonBut now hear these words, thou luxurious one, who art the one that sits at ease, that is secure, that says in her heart, I am, and there is not another; I shall not sit a widow, neither shall I know bereavement.

GreekΝῦν δὲ ἄκουε ταῦτα τρυφερὰ, ἡ καθημένη, ἡ πεποιθυῖα, ἡ λέγουσα ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς, ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἑτέρα, οὐ καθιῶ χήρα, οὐδὲ γνώσομαι ὀρφανίαν.

KJVTherefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

JPSNow therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, That sittest securely, That sayest in thy heart: ‘I am, and there is none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, Neither shall I know the loss of children’;

ThomsonBut now upon thee shall come these two things, suddenly, in one day. The loss of children and widowhood shall come suddenly on thee, in the midst of thy sorcery, in the full strength of thy mighty enchantments.

BrentonBut now these two things shall come upon thee suddenly in one day, the loss of children and widowhood shall come suddenly upon thee, for thy sorcery, for the strength of thine enchantments,

GreekΝῦν δὲ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ τὰ δύο ταῦτα ἐξαίφνης ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ, ἀτεκνία καὶ χηρεία ἥξει ἐξαίφνης ἐπὶ σὲ, ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου, ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ τῶν ἐπαοιδῶν σου σφόδρα,

KJVBut these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

JPSBut these two things shall come to thee in a moment In one day, the loss of children, and widow-hood; In their full measure shall they come upon thee, For the multitude of thy sorceries, And the great abundance of thine enchantments.

ThomsonConfiding in thy wickedness thou indeed saidst, I am and there is none else. Know thou, the consciousness of these things and thy whoredom shall be thy shame. Thou indeed saidst in thy heart, I am and there is none else;

Brentonfor thy trusting in wickedness: for thou saidst, I am, and there is not another: know thou, the understanding of these things and thy harlotry shall be thy shame; for thou saidst in thy heart, I am, and there is not another.

Greekτῇ ἐλπίδι τῆς πονηρίας σου· σὺ γὰρ εἶπας, ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἑτέρα· γνῶθι, ἡ σύνεσις τούτων ἔσται, καὶ ἡ πορνεία σου σοὶ αἰσχύνη· καὶ εἶπας τῇ καρδίᾳ σου, ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἑτέρα.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonbut upon thee shall come destruction, and thou shalt not know—a pit; and into it thou shalt fall. Yes, upon thee shall come misery, of which thou shalt not be able to rid thyself: and destruction shall come upon thee suddenly of which thou wilt have no apprehension.

BrentonAnd destruction shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not be aware; there shall be a pit, and thou shalt fall into it: and grief shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not be able to be clear; and destruction shall come suddenly upon thee, and thou shalt not know.

GreekΚαὶ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ ἀπώλεια, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς· βόθυνος, καὶ ἐμπεσῇ εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ ταλαιπωρία, καὶ οὐ μὴ δυνήσῃ καθαρὰ γενέσθαι· καὶ ἥξει ἐπὶ σὲ ἐξαπίνης ἀπώλεια, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνώσῃ.

KJVTherefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

JPSYet shall evil came upon thee; Thou shalt not know how to charm it away; And calamity shall fall upon thee; Thou shalt not be able to put it away; And ruin shall come upon thee suddenly, Before thou knowest.

ThomsonPersist now in thine incantations and in thy manifold sorcery, which thou hast learned from thy youth: if thou canst be benefited by them.

BrentonStand now with thine enchantments, and with the abundance of thy sorcery, which thou hast learned from thy youth; if thou canst be profited.

GreekΣτῆθι νῦν ἐν ταῖς ἐπαοιδαῖς σου, καὶ ἐν τῇ πολλῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου, ἃ ἐμάνθανες ἐκ νεότητός σου, εἰ δυνήσῃ ὠφεληθῆναι.

KJVStand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

JPSStand now with thine enchantments, And with the multitude of thy sorceries, Wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; If so be thou shalt be able to profit, If so be thou mayest prevail.

ThomsonThou hast wearied thyself with thy counsels: let the astrologers now stand up and save thee—let them who gaze on the stars tell thee what is instantly coming upon thee.

BrentonThou art wearied in thy counsels. Let now the astrologers of the heaven stand and deliver thee, let them that see the stars tell thee what is about to come upon thee.

GreekΚεκοπίακας ἐν ταῖς βουλαῖς σου· στήτωσαν δὴ καὶ σωσάτωσάν σε οἱ ἀστρολόγοι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, οἱ ὁρῶντες τοὺς ἀστέρας ἀναγγειλάτωσάν σοι, τί μέλλει ἐπὶ σὲ ἔρχεσθαι.

KJVThou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

JPSThou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, The monthly prognosticators, Stand up, and save thee From the things that shall come upon thee.

ThomsonBehold like brambles on a fire they shall be all burned up; and shall not deliver their own life from the flame. Seeing thou hast coals of fire, sit upon them;

BrentonBehold, they all shall be burnt up as sticks in the fire; neither shall they at all deliver their life from the flame. Because thou hast coals of fire, sit thou upon them;

GreekἸδοὺ πάντες ὡς φρύγανα ἐπὶ πυρὶ κατακαυθήσονται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξέλωνται τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν ἐκ φλογός· ὅτι ἔχεις ἄνθρακας πυρός· κάθισαι ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς,

KJVBehold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.

JPSBehold, they shall be as stubble; The fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves From the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to warm at, Nor a fire to sit before.

Thomsonwill they give thee relief? Thou hast wearied thyself with this traffic from thy youth. The men have wandered away, every one to his own home; but for thee there shall be no safety.

Brentonthese shall be thy help. Thou hast wearied thyself with traffic from thy youth: every man has wandered to his own home, but thou shalt have no deliverance.

Greekοὗτοι ἔσονταί σοι βοήθεια· ἐκοπίασας ἐν τῇ μεταβολῇ ἐκ νεότητος, ἄνθρωπος καθʼ ἑαυτὸν ἐπλανήθη, σοὶ δὲ οὐκ ἔσται σωτηρία.

KJV—

JPSThus shall they be unto thee With whom thou hast laboured; They that have trafficked with thee from thy youth Shall wander every one to his quarter; There shall be none to save thee.