1I will stand at my watch1 and station myself on the ramparts;2 I will look to see what he will say3 to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.a4
2Then the Lord replied: “Write1 down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a heralda may run with it.
3For the revelation awaits an appointed time;1 it speaks of the end2 and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait3 for it; ita will certainly come and will not delay.4
4“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person1 will live by his faithfulnessa2 —
5indeed, wine1 betrays him; he is arrogant2 and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied,3 he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive4 all the peoples.
6“Will not all of them taunt1 him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!2 How long must this go on?’
7Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.1
8Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you.1 For you have shed human blood;2 you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.3
9“Woe to him who builds1 his house by unjust gain,2 setting his nest3 on high to escape the clutches of ruin!
10You have plotted the ruin1 of many peoples, shaming2 your own house and forfeiting your life.
11The stones1 of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
12“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed1 and establishes a town by injustice!
13Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,1 that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?2
14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory1 of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.2
15“Woe to him who gives drink1 to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
16You will be filled with shame1 instead of glory.2 Now it is your turn! Drink3 and let your nakedness be exposeda!4 The cup5 from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.
17The violence1 you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you.2 For you have shed human blood;3 you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
18“Of what value1 is an idol2 carved by a craftsman? Or an image3 that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.4
19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’1 Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver;2 there is no breath in it.”3
20The Lord is in his holy temple;1 let all the earth be silent2 before him.