Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, July 30th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible
Contemporary English Version
Revelation 18:18
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, "This was the greatest city ever!"
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Christian Standard Bible®
as they watched the smoke from her burning and kept crying out: “Who was like the great city?”
as they watched the smoke from her burning and kept crying out: “Who was like the great city?”
King James Version (1611)
And cryed when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like vnto this great citie?
And cryed when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like vnto this great citie?
King James Version
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
New American Standard Bible
and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
New Century Version
As they saw the smoke from her burning, they cried out loudly, "There was never a city like this great city!"
As they saw the smoke from her burning, they cried out loudly, "There was never a city like this great city!"
THE MESSAGE
Doom to the City of Darkness Following this I saw another Angel descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with brightness, his voice thunderous: Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined! A ghost town for demons is all that's left! A garrison of carrion spirits, garrison of loathsome, carrion birds. All nations drank the wild wine of her whoring; kings of the earth went whoring with her; entrepreneurs made millions exploiting her. Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven: Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't get caught in her doom. Her sins stink to high Heaven; God has remembered every evil she's done. Give her back what she's given, double what she's doubled in her works, double the recipe in the cup she mixed; Bring her flaunting and wild ways to torment and tears. Because she gloated, "I'm queen over all, and no widow, never a tear on my face," In one day, disasters will crush her— death, heartbreak, and famine— Then she'll be burned by fire, because God, the Strong God who judges her, has had enough. "The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they'll cry and carry on, the kings who went night after night to her brothel. They'll keep their distance for fear they'll get burned, and they'll cry their lament: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! City of Babylon, strong city! In one hour it's over, your judgment come! "The traders will cry and carry on because the bottom dropped out of business, no more market for their goods: gold, silver, precious gems, pearls; fabrics of fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet; perfumed wood and vessels of ivory, precious woods, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon and spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. And slaves—their terrible traffic in human lives. Everything you've lived for, gone! All delicate and delectable luxury, lost! Not a scrap, not a thread to be found! "The traders who made millions off her kept their distance for fear of getting burned, and cried and carried on all the more: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! Dressed in the latest fashions, adorned with the finest jewels, in one hour such wealth wiped out! "All the ship captains and travelers by sea, sailors and toilers of the sea, stood off at a distance and cried their lament when they saw the smoke from her burning: ‘Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!' They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! All who owned ships or did business by sea Got rich on her getting and spending. And now it's over—wiped out in one hour! "O Heaven, celebrate! And join in, saints, apostles, and prophets! God has judged her; every wrong you suffered from her has been judged." A strong Angel reached for a boulder—huge, like a millstone—and heaved it into the sea, saying, Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon, sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again. Silent the music of harpists and singers— you'll never hear flutes and trumpets again. Artisans of every kind—gone; you'll never see their likes again. The voice of a millstone grinding falls dumb; you'll never hear that sound again. The light from lamps, never again; never again laughter of bride and groom. Her traders robbed the whole earth blind, and by black-magic arts deceived the nations. The only thing left of Babylon is blood— the blood of saints and prophets, the murdered and the martyred.
Doom to the City of Darkness Following this I saw another Angel descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with brightness, his voice thunderous: Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined! A ghost town for demons is all that's left! A garrison of carrion spirits, garrison of loathsome, carrion birds. All nations drank the wild wine of her whoring; kings of the earth went whoring with her; entrepreneurs made millions exploiting her. Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven: Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't get caught in her doom. Her sins stink to high Heaven; God has remembered every evil she's done. Give her back what she's given, double what she's doubled in her works, double the recipe in the cup she mixed; Bring her flaunting and wild ways to torment and tears. Because she gloated, "I'm queen over all, and no widow, never a tear on my face," In one day, disasters will crush her— death, heartbreak, and famine— Then she'll be burned by fire, because God, the Strong God who judges her, has had enough. "The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they'll cry and carry on, the kings who went night after night to her brothel. They'll keep their distance for fear they'll get burned, and they'll cry their lament: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! City of Babylon, strong city! In one hour it's over, your judgment come! "The traders will cry and carry on because the bottom dropped out of business, no more market for their goods: gold, silver, precious gems, pearls; fabrics of fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet; perfumed wood and vessels of ivory, precious woods, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon and spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. And slaves—their terrible traffic in human lives. Everything you've lived for, gone! All delicate and delectable luxury, lost! Not a scrap, not a thread to be found! "The traders who made millions off her kept their distance for fear of getting burned, and cried and carried on all the more: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! Dressed in the latest fashions, adorned with the finest jewels, in one hour such wealth wiped out! "All the ship captains and travelers by sea, sailors and toilers of the sea, stood off at a distance and cried their lament when they saw the smoke from her burning: ‘Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!' They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! All who owned ships or did business by sea Got rich on her getting and spending. And now it's over—wiped out in one hour! "O Heaven, celebrate! And join in, saints, apostles, and prophets! God has judged her; every wrong you suffered from her has been judged." A strong Angel reached for a boulder—huge, like a millstone—and heaved it into the sea, saying, Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon, sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again. Silent the music of harpists and singers— you'll never hear flutes and trumpets again. Artisans of every kind—gone; you'll never see their likes again. The voice of a millstone grinding falls dumb; you'll never hear that sound again. The light from lamps, never again; never again laughter of bride and groom. Her traders robbed the whole earth blind, and by black-magic arts deceived the nations. The only thing left of Babylon is blood— the blood of saints and prophets, the murdered and the martyred.
English Standard Version
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?'
Berean Standard Bible
and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her, saying, 'What city was ever like this great city?'
and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her, saying, 'What city was ever like this great city?'
Complete Jewish Bible
and cried out when they saw the smoke as she burned, "What city was like the great city?"
and cried out when they saw the smoke as she burned, "What city was like the great city?"
Darby Translation
and cried, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like to the great city?
and cried, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like to the great city?
Easy-to-Read Version
They saw the smoke from her burning. They cried out, ‘There was never a city like this great city!'
They saw the smoke from her burning. They cried out, ‘There was never a city like this great city!'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And crie, when they see that smoke of that her burning, saying, What citie was like vnto this great citie?
And crie, when they see that smoke of that her burning, saying, What citie was like vnto this great citie?
George Lamsa Translation
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to this great city!
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like to this great city!
Good News Translation
and cried out as they saw the smoke from the flames that consumed her: "There never has been another city like this great city!"
and cried out as they saw the smoke from the flames that consumed her: "There never has been another city like this great city!"
Lexham English Bible
and began to cry out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "Who is like the great city?"
and began to cry out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "Who is like the great city?"
Literal Translation
and cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like the great city?
and cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like the great city?
Amplified Bible
and exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What could be compared to the great city?'
and exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What could be compared to the great city?'
American Standard Version
and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
Bible in Basic English
And crying out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What town is like the great town?
And crying out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What town is like the great town?
Hebrew Names Version
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
International Standard Version
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they began to cry out, "What city was like the great city?"Ezekiel 27:30-31; Revelation 13:4; 18:9;">[xr]
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they began to cry out, "What city was like the great city?"Ezekiel 27:30-31; Revelation 13:4; 18:9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and cried, while beholding the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like to this great city !
and cried, while beholding the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like to this great city !
Murdock Translation
and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying: What [fn] is like this great city !
and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying: What [fn] is like this great city !
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnyng, saying: what citie is lyke vnto this great citie?
And cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnyng, saying: what citie is lyke vnto this great citie?
English Revised Version
and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
World English Bible
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city was like the great city?
stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city was like the great city?
Weymouth's New Testament
stood afar off, and cried aloud when they saw the smoke of her burning. And they said, `What city is like this great city?'
stood afar off, and cried aloud when they saw the smoke of her burning. And they said, `What city is like this great city?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and crieden, seynge the place of the brennyng of it, seiynge, What is lijk this greet citee?
and crieden, seynge the place of the brennyng of it, seiynge, What is lijk this greet citee?
Update Bible Version
and cried out as they looked on the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like the great city?
and cried out as they looked on the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like the great city?
Webster's Bible Translation
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like this great city!
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like this great city!
New English Translation
and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, "Who is like the great city?"
and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, "Who is like the great city?"
New King James Version
and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What is like this great city?'
and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What is like this great city?'
New Living Translation
They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"
They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"
New Life Bible
They cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘Has there ever been such a city as powerful as this one?'
They cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘Has there ever been such a city as powerful as this one?'
New Revised Standard
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and they cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying - What city is like unto the great city?
and they cried out, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying - What city is like unto the great city?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And cried, seeing the place of her burning, saying: What city is like to this great city?
And cried, seeing the place of her burning, saying: What city is like to this great city?
Revised Standard Version
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and cryed when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge sayinge what cite is lyke vnto this grett cite?
and cryed when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge sayinge what cite is lyke vnto this grett cite?
Young's Literal Translation
and were crying, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like to the great city?
and were crying, seeing the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like to the great city?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge, and sayde: what cite is like vnto this greate cite?
and cryed, when they sawe the smoke of her burnynge, and sayde: what cite is like vnto this greate cite?
Mace New Testament (1729)
and cry out, when they see the smoke of her burning, what city could be compar'd to this great city?
and cry out, when they see the smoke of her burning, what city could be compar'd to this great city?
Simplified Cowboy Version
They will also cry out in anguish as the flames consume her. 'She was the greatest city ever!'
They will also cry out in anguish as the flames consume her. 'She was the greatest city ever!'
Contextual Overview
9 Every king on earth who slept with her and shared in her luxury will mourn. They will weep, when they see the smoke from that fire. 10 Her sufferings will frighten them, and they will stand at a distance and say, "Pity that great and powerful city! Pity Babylon! In a single hour her judgment has come." 11 Every merchant on earth will mourn, because there is no one to buy their goods. 12 There won't be anyone to buy their gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, sweet-smelling wood, fancy carvings of ivory and wood, as well as things made of bronze, iron, or marble. 13 No one will buy their cinnamon, spices, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, slaves, and other humans. 14 Babylon, the things your heart desired have all escaped from you. Every luxury and all your glory will be lost forever. You will never get them back. 15 The merchants had become rich because of her. But when they saw her sufferings, they were terrified. They stood at a distance, crying and mourning. 16 Then they shouted, "Pity the great city of Babylon! She dressed in fine linen and wore purple and scarlet cloth. She had jewelry made of gold and precious stones and pearls. 17 Yet in a single hour her riches disappeared." Every ship captain and passenger and sailor stood at a distance, together with everyone who does business by traveling on the sea. 18 When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, "This was the greatest city ever!"
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
when: Revelation 18:9
What: Revelation 18:10, Revelation 13:4, Isaiah 23:8, Isaiah 23:9, Jeremiah 51:37, Ezekiel 27:30-32
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:28 - General Exodus 11:6 - General Deuteronomy 13:15 - destroying it utterly Job 6:21 - ye see Isaiah 34:10 - the smoke Ezekiel 27:32 - What city Ezekiel 31:15 - I caused a Hosea 11:8 - Admah Joel 2:30 - pillars Revelation 11:8 - the great Revelation 14:8 - Babylon Revelation 14:11 - smoke Revelation 19:3 - And her
Cross-References
Genesis 18:2
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground,
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground,
Genesis 18:3
and said, "Please come to my home where I can serve you.
and said, "Please come to my home where I can serve you.
Genesis 18:17
The Lord said to himself, "I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,
The Lord said to himself, "I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,
Genesis 18:18
since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.
since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.
Genesis 18:25
You surely wouldn't let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right."
You surely wouldn't let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right."
Genesis 18:26
The Lord replied, "If I find fifty good people in Sodom, I will save the city to keep them from being killed."
The Lord replied, "If I find fifty good people in Sodom, I will save the city to keep them from being killed."
Genesis 26:4
I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth,
I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth,
Psalms 72:17
May the glory of the king shine brightly forever like the sun in the sky. Let him make nations prosper and learn to praise him.
May the glory of the king shine brightly forever like the sun in the sky. Let him make nations prosper and learn to praise him.
Galatians 3:8
Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That's why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him.
Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That's why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him.
Galatians 3:14
And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing that was promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit.
And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing that was promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning,....
:-
saying, what city is like unto this great city? as before for magnificence and grandeur, so now for sorrow, desolation, and ruin; nor was any city like it for power and authority, for pride and luxury, for idolatry and superstition, blasphemy and impenitence; the like the sailors say of Tyre, Ezekiel 27:30 from whence this and other expressions are borrowed in this lamentation.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And cried ... - That is, as they had a deep interest in it, they would, on their own account, as well as hers, lift up the voice of lamentation.What city is like unto this great city? - In her destruction. What calamity has ever come upon a city like this?
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Revelation 18:18. What city is like unto this great city! — Viz. in magnitude, power, and luxury.
