What do the merchants and seafarers who traded with Babylon do when she is destroyed?
When Babylon is destroyed, the merchants who grew rich by her stand afar off out of fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. Shipmasters, sailors, and all who trade by sea likewise stand afar off, cry out, cast dust on their heads, and lament that the great city has been made desolate in one hour.
Les explains that the merchants made rich by this conglomeration of religion, politics, and economics will stand afar off for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, saying, "Alas, alas, that great city" clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet and decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, because in one hour it all comes to nothing. Shipmasters, sailors, and all who trade by sea also stand afar off and cry when they see the smoke of her burning. They cast dust on their heads, weeping and wailing, and say, "Alas, that great city," where all who had ships in the sea were made rich by her coastline, for in one hour she is made desolate.