Study Desk

I will stand at my watch^(a) and station myself on the ramparts;^(b) I will look to see what he will say^(c) to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.^[a](d)

Then the Lord replied: "Write^(e) down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald^[b] may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;^(f) it speaks of the end^(g) and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait^(h) for it; it^[c] will certainly come and will not delay.⁽ⁱ⁾

"See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person^(j) will live by his faithfulness^[d](k)—

indeed, wine^(l) betrays him; he is arrogant^(m) and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied,⁽ⁿ⁾ he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive^(o) all the peoples.

"Will not all of them taunt^(p) him with ridicule and scorn, saying, "‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!^(q) How long must this go on?'

Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.^(r)

Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you.^(s) For you have shed human blood;^(t) you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.^(u)

"Woe to him who builds^(v) his house by unjust gain,^(w) setting his nest^(x) on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

You have plotted the ruin^(y) of many peoples, shaming^(z) your own house and forfeiting your life.

The stones^(aa) of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed^(ab) and establishes a town by injustice!

Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire,^(ac) that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?^(ad)

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory^(ae) of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.^(af)

"Woe to him who gives drink^(ag) to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!

You will be filled with shame^(ah) instead of glory.^(ai) Now it is your turn! Drink^(aj) and let your nakedness be exposed^[e]!^(ak) The cup^(al) from the Lord 's right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

The violence^(am) you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you.^(an) For you have shed human blood;^(ao) you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

"Of what value^(ap) is an idol^(aq) carved by a craftsman? Or an image^(ar) that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.^(as)

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!'^(at) Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver;^(au) there is no breath in it."^(av)

The Lord is in his holy temple;^(aw) let all the earth be silent^(ax) before him.