The Humiliation of Babylon

1But as for thee O daughter, thou virgin Babylon, sit thou downe in the dust, sit vpo the ground, there is no throne O thou daughter of Caldea, for thou shalt no more be called tender and pleasaunt.

2Bryng foorth the querne and grinde meale, vntrusse thy broydred heere, put of thy shoes, make bare thy knees, and wade thorowe the water riuers.

3Thy filthynesse shalbe discouered, and thy priuities shalbe seene: for I wil auenge me of thee, and wyll shewe no mercy to thee, as I do to other men.

4Our redeemer is called the Lorde of hoastes, the holy one of Israel.

5Sit still, holde thy tongue; get thee into some darke corner O daughter Caldea: for thou shalt no more be called lady of kyngdomes.

6I was so wroth with my people, that I punished myne inheritaunce, and gaue them into thy power, neuerthelesse thou shewedst them no mercy, but euen the very aged of them diddest thou oppresse right sore with the yoke.

7And thou thoughtest thus: I shalbe lady for euer, and beside all that, thou hast not regarded these thinges, neither remembred what was the ende of that citie Hierusalem.

8Heare nowe therefore thou delicate one that sittest so carelesse, and speakest thus in thyne heart, I am alone, and without me is there none, I shal neuer be widowe nor desolate agayne.

9And yet both these thinges shal come to thee vpon one day, in the twinckeling of an eye, namely, widowhood and desolation: they mightyly fall vpon thee, for the multitude of thy witches, and for the great heape of thy coniurers.

10For thou hast trusted in thy wickednesse, and hast said, No man seeth me: thine owne wisdome and cunning hath deceaued thee, in that thou hast sayd in thyne heart, I am alone, and without me there is none.

11Therefore shall trouble come vpon thee, and thou shalt not knowe from whence it shall arise: Mischiefe shall fal vpon thee, which thou shalt not be able to put of, a sodayne vtter destruction shall come vpon thee or euer thou be ware.

12Nowe go to thy coniurers, and to the multitude of thy witches with whom thou hast weeryed thy selfe from thy youth, if thei may helpe thee or strength thee.

13Thou hast hitherto had many counsayles of them: So let the heauen gasers, and the beholders of starres, and moone prophetes, come on now and deliuer thee, yea and let them shew when these new thinges shal come vpon thee.

14Beholde, they shalbe lyke strawe, whiche if it be kindeled with fire, no man may rid it for the vehemencie of the flambe, and yet it geueth no finders to warme a man by, nor cleare fire to sit by.

15Thus are they with whom thou hast weeried thy self, and thus are thy marchauntes that haue ben with thee from thy youth: euery one hath taken his owne way, and none of them shall defende thee.