Isaiah 14:3–11

Downfall of the King of Babylon

³When the Lord gives you rest from your pain, ^qtorment, and the hard labor ^ryou were forced to do, ⁴you will sing this song of contempt about the king of Babylon ^sand say:

How the oppressor has quieted down,

and how the raging ^thas become quiet!

⁵The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of the rulers.

⁶It struck the peoples in anger

with unceasing blows.

It subdued the nations in rage

with relentless persecution.

⁷All the earth is calm and at rest;

people shout with a ringing cry.

⁸Even the cypresses and the cedars of Lebanon

rejoice over you: ^u

“Since you have been laid low,

no woodcutter has come against us.”

⁹Sheol below is eager to greet your coming.

He stirs up the spirits of the departed for you—

all the rulers ^vof the earth.

He makes all the kings of the nations

rise from their thrones.

¹⁰They all respond to you, saying:

“You too have become as weak as we are;

you have become like us!

¹¹Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol,

along with the music of your harps.

Maggots are spread out under you,

and worms cover you.”