| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1I will stand at my watch post; I will remain stationed on the city wall. I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me and can know how I should answer when he counters my argument. | 1I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint. The LORD’s Second Reply |
| 2The LORD responded: "Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily. | 2Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. |
| 3For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass--it will not arrive late. | 3This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. |
| 4Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness. | 4“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. |
| 5Indeed, wine will betray the proud, restless man! His appetite is as big as Sheol's; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations; he seizes all peoples. | 5Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples. |
| 6"But all these nations will someday taunt him and ridicule him with proverbial sayings: 'The one who accumulates what does not belong to him is as good as dead (How long will this go on?)--he who gets rich by extortion!' | 6“But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’ |
| 7Your creditors will suddenly attack; those who terrify you will spring into action, and they will rob you. | 7Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. |
| 8Because you robbed many countries, all who are left among the nations will rob you. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them. | 8Because you have plundered many nations, now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence. |
| 9The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster. | 9“What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger. |
| 10Your schemes will bring shame to your house. Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct. | 10But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. |
| 11For the stones in the walls will cry out, and the wooden rafters will answer back. | 11The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. |
| 12The one who builds a city by bloodshed is as good as dead--he who starts a town by unjust deeds. | 12“What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption! |
| 13Be sure of this! The LORD who commands armies has decreed: The nations' efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing. | 13Has not the LORD of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! |
| 14For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea. | 14For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. |
| 15"You who force your neighbor to drink wine are as good as dead--you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger, so you can look at their genitals. | 15“What sorrow awaits you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their shameful nakedness. |
| 16But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty. Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin! The cup of wine in the LORD's right hand is coming to you, and disgrace will replace your majestic glory! | 16But soon it will be your turn to be disgraced. Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame. |
| 17For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon; terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them. | 17You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you will be cut down. You destroyed the wild animals, so now their terror will be yours. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence. |
| 18What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things? | 18“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk! |
| 19The one who says to wood, 'Wake up!' is as good as dead--he who says to speechless stone, 'Awake!' Can it give reliable guidance? It is overlaid with gold and silver; it has no life's breath inside it. | 19What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. |
| 20But the LORD is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!" | 20But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” |
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