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¹ This is the burthen of Babylon, whiche Esai the sonne of Amos did see.² Lift vp the banner vppon the high hyll, call vnto the, wagge your hande, that they may go into the gates of the princes.³ I haue commaunded my sanctified, I haue also called my valiaunt ones, ioying in my honour to execute my wrath.⁴ There is a noyse of a multitude in the mountaynes, lyke as of a great people, a rushing as though the kingdomes of the nations came together: the Lorde of hoastes mustreth his armye to battayle.⁵ They come out of a farre countrey from the ende of the heauen, euen the Lorde hym selfe with the ministers of his wrath, to destroy the whole lande.

⁶ Mourne ye, for the day of the Lord is at hande, and shall come as a destroyer from the almightie.⁷ Therefore shall all handes be letten downe, and all mens heartes shall melt away.⁸ They shall stande in feare, carefulnes and sorowe shall come vpon them, and they shal haue payne, as a woman that trauayleth with chylde: One shalbe abashed of another, and their faces shall burne like the flame of fire.⁹ Beholde, the day of the Lorde shall come terribly and full of indignation, furie & wrath, to make the lande waste, and to roote out the sinners therof.¹⁰ For the starres and planettes of heauen shall not geue their light, the sunne shalbe darkened in the rising, and the moone shall not shine with her light.¹¹ And I wyll visite the wickednesse of the worlde, and the sinnes of the vngodlye. The high stomakes of the proude wyll I take away, and will lay downe the boasting of the tiraunt.¹² I wyll make a man dearer then fine gold, and a man to be more worth then a golden wedge of Ophir.¹³ Therfore I wyll shake the heauens, and the earth shall remoue out of her place in the wrath of the Lorde of hoastes, and in the day of his fearefull indignation.¹⁴ And [Babylon] shalbe as an hunted or chased Doe, and as a sheepe that no man taketh vp: Euery man shall turne to his owne people, and flee eche one into his owne lande.¹⁵ Whoso is founde shalbe shot thorowe: and whoso taketh their part, shalbe destroyed with the sworde.¹⁶ Their chyldren shalbe slayne before their eyes: their house spoyled, and their wiues rauished.¹⁷ For lo, I shall bring vp the Medes against them, whiche shall not regarde siluer, nor be desirous of golde:¹⁸ With bowes shall they destroy the young men, and haue no pitie on women with chylde, and their faces shall not spare the chyldren.

¹⁹ And Babylon that glory of kingdomes, and beautie of the Chaldees honour shalbe destroyed, euen as God destroyed Sodome and Gomor.²⁰ It shall not endure for euer, neither shall there be any more dwelling there from generation to generation: The Arabians shall pitche no tentes there, neither shall the sheepheardes make their foldes there any more.²¹ But fearefull wylde beastes shall lye there, and the houses shalbe ful of great Owles, Estriches shall dwell there, and Apes shall daunce there.²² Wylde cattes shall crye in the palaces, and dragons shalbe in the pleasaunt houses: And as for Babylons tyme it is at hande, and her dayes shall not be prolonged.