The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyme wood, ivory goods, and objects made from expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and bodies-that is, human slaves.
“The fancy things you loved so much are gone,” they cry. “All your luxuries and splendor are gone forever, never to be yours again.”
The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand up at a distance, terrified by her great torment. The will weep and cry out,
“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in the finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls! In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!”
And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crew will stand at a distance. They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is another city as great at this?” And they will weep and cry out, “
“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! The shipowners became wealthy by transporting her great wealth on the seas. In a single moment it is all gone.”
Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last Go had judge her for your sakes. (vv. 9-20, NLT)