Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
New King James Version
Revelation 18:18
and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What is like this great city?'
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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?'
Contemporary English Version
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, "This was the greatest city ever!"
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, "This was the greatest city ever!"
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 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 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, "Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' 11 "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, [fn] and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, "Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What is like this great city?'
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
So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
Genesis 18:3
and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.
and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.
Genesis 18:17
And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
Genesis 18:18
since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Genesis 18:26
So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."
So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."
Genesis 26:4
And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;
And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;
Psalms 72:17
His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.
His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed.
Galatians 3:8
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14">[fn]
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14">[fn]
Galatians 3:14
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
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.
