Revelation 18:23

New Revised Standard

and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more; and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more; for your merchants were the magnates of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
the light of a lampwill never shine in you again;and the voice of a groom and bridewill never be heard in you again.All this will happenbecause your merchantswere the nobility of the earth,because all the nations were deceivedby your sorcery.

King James Version (1611)
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee: and the voice of the bridegrome and of the bride shalbe heard no more at all in thee: for thy Merchants were the great men of the earth: for by thy sorceries were all nations deceiued.

King James Version
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

New American Standard Bible
and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.

New Century Version
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great people, and all the nations were tricked by your magic.

English Standard Version
and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

Berean Standard Bible
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery."

Contemporary English Version
Lamps will no longer shine anywhere in Babylon, and couples will never again say wedding vows there. Her merchants ruled the earth, and by her witchcraft she fooled all nations.

Complete Jewish Bible
the light of a lamp will never again shine in you, the voice of bridegroom and bride will never again be heard in you. "For your businessmen were the most powerful on earth, all the nations were deceived by your magic spell.

Darby Translation
and light of lamp shall shine no more at all in thee, and voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more at all in thee; for thy merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by thy sorcery have all the nations been deceived.

Easy-to-Read Version
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voices of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great people. All the nations were tricked by your magic.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the light of a candle shall shine no more in thee: and the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride shalbe heard no more in thee: for thy marchants were the great men of the earth: and with thine inchantments were deceiued all nations.

George Lamsa Translation
And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all peoples deceived.

Good News Translation
Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you; no more will the voices of brides and grooms be heard in you. Your merchants were the most powerful in all the world, and with your false magic you deceived all the peoples of the world!"

Lexham English Bible
And the light of a lamp will never shine in you again! And the sound of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again! For your merchants were the most important people of the earth, because with your sorcery they deceived all the nations.

Literal Translation
And the light of a lamp will not still shine in you, never! And the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you, never! For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were led astray.

Amplified Bible
"And never again will the light of a lamp shine in you, and never again will the voice of the bridegroom and bride be heard in you; for your merchants were the great and prominent men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived and misled by your sorcery [your magic spells and poisonous charm].

American Standard Version
and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.

Bible in Basic English
And never again will the shining of lights be seen in you; and the voice of the newly-married man and the bride will never again be sounding in you: for your traders were the lords of the earth, and by your evil powers were all the nations turned out of the right way.

Hebrew Names Version
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the eretz; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

International Standard Version
The light from a lamp2 Kings 9:22; Isaiah 23:8; Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; 33:11; Nahum 3:4; Revelation 17:2,5;">[xr] will never shine in you again. The voice of a bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the important people of the world, and all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.

Etheridge Translation
And the light of a lamp shall be seen in thee no more. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard in thee no more. For thy merchants were the great ones of the earth; for by thy sorcery were all nations seduced.

Murdock Translation
And the light of a candle, shall not be seen in thee; and the voice of a bridegroom and bride, shall no more be heard in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, because all nations were seduced by thy sorceries.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the lyght of a candle shall shyne no more in thee, and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shall be hearde no more in thee: for thy marchaunts were the great men of ye earth, and with thyne inchauntment were deceaued all nations:

English Revised Version
and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.

World English Bible
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee, and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more in thee: for thy merchants, were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Weymouth's New Testament
Never again shall the light of a lamp shine in thee, and never again shall the voice of a bridegroom or of a bride be heard in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth, and with the magic which thou didst practise all nations were led astray.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and the liyt of lanterne schal no more schyne to thee, and the vois of the hosebonde and of the wijf schal no more yit be herd in thee; for thi marchauntis weren princis of the erthe. For in thi witchecraftis alle folkis erriden.

Update Bible Version
and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your witchcraft were all the nations deceived.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the light of a candle shall shine no more in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

New English Translation
Even the light from a lamp will never shine in you again! The voices of the bridegroom and his bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the tycoons of the world, because all the nations were deceived by your magic spells!

New King James Version
The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

New Living Translation
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.

New Life Bible
No light will ever shine in you again. There will be no more happy voices from a wedding heard in you. Your men who bought and sold were the most powerful on earth. You fooled people over all the world by your witchcraft.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And light of lamp, - in nowise shine in thee any more; and voice of bridegroom and bride, - in nowise be heard in thee any more; because, thy merchants, were the great ones of the earth, because, with thy sorcery, were all the nations deceived:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the light of the lamp shall shine no more at all in thee: and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth: for all nations have been deceived by thy enchantments.

Revised Standard Version
and the light of a lamp shall shine in thee no more; and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard in thee no more; for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, and all nations were deceived by thy sorcery.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde shalbe herde no more in the: for thy marchauntes were ye grett men of ye erth. And with thyne inchantment were deceaved all nacions:

Young's Literal Translation
and light of a lamp may not shine at all in thee any more; and voice of bridegroom and of bride may not be heard at all in thee any more; because thy merchants were the great ones of the earth, because in thy sorcery were all the nations led astray,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and the voyce of the brydegrome and of the bryde, shalbe herde no more in the for thy marchauntes were prynces of the earth. And with thyne inchautment were deceaued all nacions:

Mace New Testament (1729)
the lamp shall no more be lighted in thee; the bridal-song shall be heard there no more: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; all nations were seduc'd by thy enchantments.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Never again will your lamp light the way toward sinful deeds; no more will you entice brides and grooms. Your business partners were the most powerful in the world, but now they are none. No longer will your magic influence anyone."

Contextual Overview

⁹ And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning; ¹⁰ they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas, alas, the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come." ¹¹ And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, ¹² cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble, ¹³ cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, choice flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, slaves—and human lives. ¹⁴ "The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your dainties and your splendor are lost to you, never to be found again!" ¹⁵ The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, ¹⁶ "Alas, alas, the great city, clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! ¹⁷ For in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste!" And all shipmasters and seafarers, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off ¹⁸ and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the light: Revelation 22:5, Job 21:17, Proverbs 4:18, Proverbs 4:19, Proverbs 24:20

the voice: Revelation 18:22

thy merchants: Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:11-19, Isaiah 23:8, Ezekiel 27:24, Ezekiel 27:25, Ezekiel 27:33, Ezekiel 27:34

for: Revelation 18:3, Revelation 18:9, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:13-16, Revelation 17:2, Revelation 17:5, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15, 2 Kings 9:22, Isaiah 47:9, Nahum 3:4, Acts 8:11

Reciprocal: Job 3:7 - solitary Job 18:6 - candle Psalms 119:118 - their deceit Proverbs 7:12 - General Isaiah 23:1 - for it is Isaiah 23:4 - I travail Isaiah 44:20 - a deceived Jeremiah 7:34 - to cease Jeremiah 16:9 - I will Jeremiah 25:10 - voice of mirth Jeremiah 27:9 - hearken Jeremiah 33:11 - voice of joy Jeremiah 48:33 - joy Jeremiah 51:7 - the nations Jeremiah 51:55 - destroyed Ezekiel 26:13 - General Hosea 2:11 - cause 2 Thessalonians 2:9 - is 1 Timothy 4:1 - seducing 2 Timothy 3:13 - evil James 3:6 - a world Revelation 9:21 - their sorceries Revelation 13:14 - deceiveth Revelation 16:10 - upon Revelation 19:2 - judged

Cross-References

Genesis 18:4
Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

Genesis 18:5
Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."

Genesis 18:6
And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes."

Genesis 18:7
Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.

Genesis 18:25
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"

Genesis 20:4
Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent people?

2 Samuel 24:17
When David saw the angel who was destroying the people, he said to the Lord , "I alone have sinned, and I alone have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house."

Job 8:3
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?

Job 34:17
Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,

Psalms 73:28
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee,.... Either for common use, or at feasts, or at marriages, which being kept at night, required candies, lamps, or torches; this shows that Babylon, or Rome, shall be deprived of everything, even of the least thing that is comfortable in life; see Jeremiah 25:10 this will be a just punishment upon her for her abuse of this blessing of life; so where wax candles in great numbers have been burning in the daytime, there will not be so much as a single candle to give light in the night; and where candles have been lighted up for the dead, there will not be one for the use of the living:

and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: there will be no marrying, nor giving in marriage; no procreation of children, or propagation of posterity, in this place; which denotes the utter extirpation of the inhabitants of it; the phrases are taken from Jeremiah 7:34

Jeremiah 25:10 and this will be in righteous retaliation for the prohibition of marriage; which God has instituted, and is honourable, 1 Timothy 4:2 the reasons of Babylon's destruction follow:

for thy merchants were the great men of the earth: in allusion to the merchants of Tyre, said to be princes, Isaiah 23:8 for by trading and dealing in the wares and merchandise of Rome, persons of mean extract, and of very low circumstances of life, have grown exceeding rich, and have equalled the princes of the earth; as for instance, Cardinal Wolsey here in England, a butcher's son at Ipswich; and on the other hand, the princes and great men of the earth have become Rome's merchants, and have thought it an high honour to get a cardinal's hat, as the Cardinals Albertus duke of Austria, Bourbon, Pool, and others, mentioned by Brightman:

for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived; meaning her false doctrines, traditions, idolatry, superstition, and will worship, with which, as another Jezebel, she has bewitched, allured, and deceived the nations of the empire, and the kings thereof, Revelation 18:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee - Another image of desolation, as if every light were put out, and there were total darkness.

And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee - The merry and cheerful voice of the marriage procession in the streets (notes on Matthew 25:1-7), or the cheerful, glad voice of the newly-married couple in their own dwelling (notes on John 3:29).

For thy merchants were the great men of the earth - Those who dealt with thee were the rich, and among them were even nobles and princes; and now that they trade with thee no more there is occasion for lamentation and sorrow. The contrast is great between the time when distinguished foreigners crowded thy marts, and now, when none of any kind come to traffic with thee. The origin of this representation is probably the description of Tyre in Ezekiel 27:0.

For by thy sorceries were all nations deceived - This is stated as a reason for the ruin that had come upon her. It is a common representation of papal Rome that she has deceived or deluded the nations of the earth (see the notes on Revelation 13:14), and no representation ever made accords more with facts as they have occurred. The word “sorceries” here refers to the various arts the tricks impostures, and false pretences by which this has been done. See the notes on Revelation 9:21.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. By thy sorceries — Political arts, state tricks, counterfeit miracles, and deceptive manoeuvres of every kind. This may be spoken of many great cities of the world, which still continue to flourish!