39. But the winds from the east will prevail and will stop them, together with the cloud it had stirred up in wrath. The tempest that was to cause destruction will be driven violently from the east to the west.
40. Great, angry storm clouds will be raised up so that they may destroy the whole earth and its inhabitants, and they will unleash over every high and lofty place a terrible tempest—
41. fire and hail, flying swords, and much water—so that all the fields and all the streams will be filled with the great quantity of those waters.
42. They will destroy cities, walls, mountains and hills, trees in the forests, grass in the meadows, and their grain.
43. They will proceed steadily to Babylon to destroy it.
44. They will come to it, surround it, and pour out their tempest and all their wrath over it. Dust and smoke will go up to heaven, and all around will mourn it.
45. Those who survive will serve those who destroyed it.
46. You, Asia—you who share in Babylon’s splendor and the glory of the mask it wears—
47. how terrible it will be for you, wretched one, because you have become like Babylon. You dressed up your daughters for sexual immorality, to please and take pride in your lovers, who have always lusted for you.
48. You have imitated that repulsive one in all her works and devices. Therefore, God says,
49. I will send disasters upon you—widowhood, poverty, hunger, sword, and disease—to desolate your houses, to bring you to devastation and death.
50. Your glorious strength will dry up like a flower when the heat that is sent against you rises.
51. Plagues will leave you weak and impoverished, wounded by whips, so that you can’t receive your powerful lovers.
52. Would I have been so jealous of you, says the Lord,
53. if you hadn’t constantly killed my chosen ones, rejoicing, clapping your hands, and talking about their deaths when you were drunk?
54. Make yourself beautiful!
55. The fee due a prostitute is in your lap. Because of this, you will get what’s coming to you.
56. As you will do to my chosen ones, says the Lord, so God will do to you and will give you over to disasters.
57. Your children will die of hunger, and you will fall by the sword. Your cities will be laid waste, and all your people will fall by the sword in the open field.
58. Those who are in the mountains will perish by hunger. They will be so hungry for bread and so thirsty for water that they will eat their own flesh and drink their own blood.