# 2 Nephi 23

*1830 Edition*

**1** The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

**2** Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

**3** I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.

**4** The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle.

**5** They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

**6** Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand: it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

**7** Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man’s heart shall melt;

**8** and they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.—

**9** Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

**10** For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in her going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

**11** And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible.

**12** I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

**13** Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

**14** And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

**15** Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is joined to the wicked, shall fall by the sword.

**16** Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

**17** Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor they shall not delight in it.

**18** Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.

**19** And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

**20** It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there: neither shall the shepherds make their fold there:

**21** but wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.

**22** And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my people: but the wicked shall perish.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/1830/2-nephi/23)*