The LORD Answers Again 1 CPDV I will stand firm during my watch, and fix my position over the fortification. And I will observe carefully, to see what might be said to me and what I might respond to my opponent. BSB BSB: I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected.
2 CPDV And the Lord responded to me and said: Write the vision and explain it on tablets, so that he who reads it may run through it. BSB BSB: Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.
3 CPDV For as yet the vision is far off, and it will appear in the end, and it will not lie. If it expresses any delay, wait for it. For it is arriving and it will arrive, and it will not be hindered. BSB BSB: For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
4 CPDV Behold, he who is unbelieving, his soul will not be right within himself; but he who is just shall live in his faith. BSB BSB: Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—
5 CPDV And in the manner that wine deceives the heavy drinker, so will the arrogant man be deceived, and he will not be honored. He has enlarged his life like hellfire, and himself like death, and he is never fulfilled. And he will gather to himself all nations, and he will amass for himself all peoples. BSB BSB: and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Woe to the Chaldeans 6 CPDV Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and an enigmatic utterance about him? And it will be said, “Woe to him who increases what is not his own.” How long, then, will he lay down dense clay against himself? BSB BSB: Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’
7 CPDV Shall they not suddenly rise up, who would bite you, and be stirred up, who would tear you, so that you will be a prey for them? BSB BSB: Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey.
8 CPDV Because you have despoiled many peoples, all those who are left of the people shall despoil you, because of the blood of men, and the iniquity of the earth, of the city and all who dwell therein. BSB BSB: Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
9 CPDV Woe to him who gathers together an evil greed for his house, so that his nest may be exalted, and thinking that he might free himself from the hand of evil. BSB BSB: Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
10 CPDV You have devised confusion for your house, you have cut to pieces many peoples, and your soul has sinned. BSB BSB: You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your life.
11 CPDV For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the wood that is between the joints of the building will respond. BSB BSB: For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.
12 CPDV Woe to him who builds a town with blood and prepares a city by iniquity. BSB BSB: Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!
13 CPDV Are not these things before the Lord of hosts? For the people will labor amid a great fire, and the nations will labor in emptiness, and they will fail. BSB BSB: Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?
14 CPDV For the earth shall be filled, that they might know the glory of the Lord, like the waters spreading over the sea. BSB BSB: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
15 CPDV Woe to anyone who gives a drink to a friend, releasing a drug and inebriating, so as to look upon their nakedness. BSB BSB: Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!
16 CPDV You are filled with disgrace in place of glory. So then, drink and fall fast asleep, for the cup of the right hand of the Lord will surround you, and a disgraceful vomit will cover your glory. BSB BSB: You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.
17 CPDV For the iniquity of Lebanon will cover you, and the devastation of animals which will deter them from the blood of men, and the iniquity of the earth and the city, and of all who dwell therein. BSB BSB: For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
18 CPDV Of what benefit is the graven image? For its maker has formed it, a molten and imaginary deception. For its maker has hoped in a figment of his own creation, so as to make a dumb likeness. BSB BSB: What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 CPDV Woe to him who says to wood, “Awaken,” to the silent stone, “Arise.” Is it able to teach? Behold, it has been entirely covered with gold and silver; and there is no spirit at all in its inner workings. BSB BSB: Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
20 CPDV But the Lord is in his holy temple. May all the earth be silent before his face. BSB BSB: But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.