1 After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance.tn Grk “glory”; but often in the sense of splendor, brightness, or radiance (see L&N 14.49).

2 Hetn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style shouted with a powerful voice:

3 For all the nationstn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”). have fallentc ‡ Several mss (א A C 1006* 1611 1841 2030 ÏK), including the best witnesses, read “have fallen” (πεπτώκασιν or πέπτωκαν [peptwkasin or peptwkan]). The singular πέπτωκεν (peptwken), which is better grammatically with the neuter plural subject πάντα τὰ ἔθνη (panta ta eqnh, “all the nations”), is read by 1854 2062 pc; 2042 pc read πεπότικεν (pepotiken). A few mss (1006c 2329 pc latt syh) read “have drunk” (πέπωκαν/πεπώκασιν, pepwkan/pepwkasin); the singular πέπωκεν (pepwken) is read by P 051 1 2053* al. The more difficult reading and that which has the best ms support is “have fallen.” That it is not too difficult is evidenced by the fact that the great majority of Byzantine minuscules, which have a tendency to smooth out problems, left it stand as is. Nonetheless, it is somewhat difficult (TCGNT 683 says that this reading is “scarcely suitable in the context”), and for that reason certain mss seem to have changed it to “have drunk” to agree with the idea of “wine” (οἴνου, oinou). One can understand how this could happen: A scribe coming to the text and seeing the term “wine” expects a verb of drinking. When he sees “have fallen” and knows that in Greek the verbs “have fallen” and “have drunk” are spelled similarly, he concludes that there has been a slip of the pen in the ms he is using, which he then seeks to correct back to the “have drunk” reading. This appears to be more reasonable than to conclude that three early uncials (i.e., א A C) as well as a great number of other witnesses all felt the need to change “have drunk” (πέπωκαν) to “have fallen” (πέπτωκαν), even if “fallen” occurs in the immediate context (“fallen, fallen, [ἔπεσεν ἔπεσεν, epesen epesen] Babylon the great” in the preceding verse). The preferred reading, on both external and internal grounds, is “have fallen,” and thus the Seer intends to focus on the effects of wine, namely, a drunken stupor. from

4 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative. I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues,

5 because her sins have piledtn On ἐκολλήθησαν (ekollhqhsan) BDAG 556 s.v. κολλάω 2.a.β states, “fig. cling to = come in close contact with (cp. Ps 21:16; 43:26 ἐκολλήθη εἰς γῆν ἡ γαστὴρ ἡμῶν. The act.=‘bring into contact’ PGM 5, 457 κολλήσας τ. λίθον τῷ ὠτίῳ) ἐκολλήθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἄχρι τ. οὐρανοῦ the sins have touched the heaven = reached the sky (two exprs. are telescoped) Rv 18:5.” up all the way to heaventn Or “up to the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). and God has rememberedtn That is, remembered her sins to execute judgment on them. her crimes.tn Or “her sins.”

6 Repay her the same way she repaid others;tn The word “others” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. pay her back doubletn On this term BDAG 252 s.v. διπλόω states, “to double τὰ διπλᾶ pay back double Rv 18:6.” corresponding to her deeds. In the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her.

7 As much astn “As much as” is the translation of ὅσα (Josa). she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury,tn On the term ἐστρηνίασεν (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. στρηνιάω states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. πορνεύειν vs. 9.” to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself,tn Grk “said in her heart,” an idiom for saying something to oneself. ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’

8 For this reason, she will experience her plaguestn Grk “For this reason, her plagues will come.” in a single day: disease,tn Grk “death.” θάνατος (qanatos) can in particular contexts refer to a manner of death, specifically a contagious disease (see BDAG 443 s.v. 3; L&N 23.158). mourning,tn This is the same Greek word (πένθος, penqo") translated “grief” in vv. 7-8. and famine, and she will be burned downtn Here “burned down” was used to translate κατακαυθήσεται (katakauqhsetai) because a city is in view. with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is powerful!”

9 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the kings of the earth who committed immoral acts with her and lived in sensual luxurytn On the term ἐστρηνίασεν (estrhniasen) BDAG 949 s.v. στρηνιάω states, “live in luxury, live sensually Rv 18:7. W. πορνεύειν vs. 9.” with her will weep and wail for her when they see the smoke from the fire that burns her up.tn Grk “from the burning of her.” For the translation “the smoke from the fire that burns her up,” see L&N 14.63.

10 They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say,

11 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision. the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargotn On γόμος (gomos) BDAG 205 s.v. states, “load, freight…cargo of a ship…Ac 21:3. W. gen. of the owner Rv 18:11. W. gen. of content…γ. χρυσοῦ a cargo of gold vs. 12.” any longer –

12 cargo such as gold, silver,tn Grk “and silver,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before most of these terms since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk,tn On this term BDAG 924-25 s.v. σιρικός states, “per. to silk from Ser, subst. τὸ σιρικόν silk cloth or garments w. other costly materials Rv 18:12.” scarlet cloth,tn On the translation of κόκκινον (kokkinon) as “scarlet cloth” see L&N 6.170. all sorts of things made of citron wood,tn On the phrase πᾶν ξύλον θύϊνον (pan xulon quinon) L&N 3.63 states, “pertaining to being made or consisting of citron wood (that is, from a citron tree) – ‘of citron wood.’ καὶ πᾶν ξύλον θύϊνον καὶ πᾶν σκεῦος ἐλεφάντινον ‘and all kinds of things made of citron wood and all kinds of objects made of ivory’ Re 18:12. The citron tree belongs to the citrus family of plants, and it produces a pale yellow fruit somewhat larger than a lemon, the rind of which is often candied. In Re 18:12, however, the focus is upon the fine quality of the wood.” all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble,

13 cinnamon, spice,tn On the term ἄμωμον (amwmon) L&N 5.23 states, “a generic term for any kind of spice, though often a specific reference to amomum, an Indian type of spice – ‘spice, amomum.’ κιννάμωμον καὶ ἄμωμον καὶ θυμιάματα ‘cinnamon and spice and incense’ Re 18:13. In most translations ἄμωμον is interpreted as spice in general.” incense, perfumed ointment,tn Or “myrrh,” a strong aromatic ointment often used to prepare a body for burial (L&N 6.205). frankincense,tn The Greek term λίβανος (libano") refers to the aromatic resin of a certain type of tree (L&N 6.212). wine, olive oil and costly flour,tn On σεμίδαλις (semidali") L&N 5.10 states, “a fine grade of wheat flour – ‘fine flour.’ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον καὶ σεμίδαλιν καὶ σῖτον ‘wine and oil and fine flour and wheat’ Re 18:13. In some languages ‘fine flour’ may be best expressed as ‘expensive flour.’ Such a rendering fits well the context of Re 18:13.” wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages,tn Or “and wagons.” On the term ῥέδη (rJedh) see L&N 6.53: “a four-wheeled carriage or wagon used for travel or the transportation of loads – ‘carriage, wagon.’ The term ῥέδη occurs only in Re 18:13 in a list of products bought and sold by merchants.” slaves and human lives.tn Grk “and bodies and souls of men.” This could be understood (1) as a hendiadys (two things mentioned = one thing meant), referring only to slave trade; (2) it could be referring to two somewhat different concepts: slavery (bodies) and the cheapness of human life – some of the items earlier in the list of merchandise were to be obtained only at great cost of human life; or (3) a somewhat related idea, that the trade is in not just physical bodies (slavery) but human souls (people whose lives are destroyed through this trade).

14 (The ripe fruittn On ὀπώρα (opwra) L&N 3.34 states, “ἡ ὀπώρα σου τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ψυχῆς ‘the ripe fruit for which you longed’ Re 18:14. In this one occurrence of ὀπώρα in the NT, ‘ripe fruit’ is to be understood in a figurative sense of ‘good things.’” you greatly desiredtn Grk “you desired in your soul.”

15 The merchants who soldtn Grk “the merchants [sellers] of these things.” these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weeptn Grk “her torment, weeping.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation by supplying the words “They will” here. and mourn,

16 saying,

17 because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!”tn On ἠρημώθη (hrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned – ‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ἐρημόομαι: μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη ὁ τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”

18 and began to shouttn Here the imperfect ἔκραζον (ekrazon) has been translated ingressively. when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up,tn Grk “from the burning of her, saying.” For the translation “the smoke from the fire that burned her up,” see L&N 14.63. Here the participle λέγοντες (legontes, “saying”) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English. “Who is like the great city?”

19 And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning,tn Grk “with weeping and mourning, saying.” Here the participle λέγοντες (legontes) has not been translated because it is redundant in contemporary English.

20 (Rejoice over her, O heaven,

21 Thentn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative. one powerful angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone, threw it into the sea, and said,

22 And the sound of the harpists, musicians,

23 Even the light from a lamp

24 Thetn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. blood of the saints and prophets was found in her,tn The shift in pronouns from second to third person corresponds to the Greek text.