Chapter 2
1 I will stand at my watch and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me , and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
2 The LORD answered me , " Write the vision , and make it plain on tablets , that he who runs may read it .
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time , and it hurries towards the end , and won’t prove false . Though it takes time , wait for it , because it will surely come . It won’t delay .
4 Behold , his soul is puffed up . It is not upright in him , but the righteous will live by his faith.
5 Yes , moreover , wine is treacherous: an arrogant man who doesn’t stay at home , who enlarges his desire as Sheol ; he is like death and can ’t be satisfied , but gathers to himself all nations and heaps to himself all peoples .
6 Won’t all these take up a parable against him , and a taunting proverb against him , and say, ‘ Woe to him who increases that which is not his , and who enriches himself by extortion! How long ?’
7 Won’t your debtors rise up suddenly , and wake up those who make you tremble , and you will be their victim?
8 Because you have plundered many nations , all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you because of men ’s blood , and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it .
9 Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house , that he may set his nest on high , that he may be delivered from the hand of evil !
10 You have devised shame to your house by cutting off many peoples , and have sinned against your soul .
11 For the stone will cry out of the wall , and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it .
12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood , and establishes a city by iniquity !
13 Behold , isn’t it from the LORD of Armies that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity ?
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD ’s glory , as the waters cover the sea .
15 " Woe to him who gives his neighbour drink , pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk , so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!
16 You are filled with shame , and not glory . You will also drink and be exposed! The cup of the LORD ’s right hand will come around to you , and disgrace will cover your glory .
17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you , and the destruction of the animals will terrify you , because of men ’s blood and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them .
18 " What value does the engraved image have , that its maker has engraved it ; the molten image , even the teacher of lies , that he who fashions its form trusts in it , to make mute idols ?
19 Woe to him who says to the wood , ‘ Awake !’ or to the mute stone, ‘ Arise !’ Shall this teach ? Behold , it is overlaid with gold and silver , and there is no breath at all within it .
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple . Let all the earth be silent before him !"