Isaiah 14:4-11

Israel’s Taunt against Babylon

⁴that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased, And how the onslaught has ceased!

⁵“The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of rulers,

⁶Which used to strike the peoples in fury with unceasing strokes, Which subdued the nations in anger with unrestrained persecution.

⁷“The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy.

⁸“Even the juniper trees rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you have been laid low, no tree cutter comes up against us.’

⁹“Sheol below is excited about you, to meet you when you come; It stirs the spirits of the dead for you, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.

¹⁰“They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have become weak as we, You have become like us.

¹¹‘Your pride and the music of your harps Have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering.’