1 ¶ I will stand as a watchman, and station myself on the wall, and will watch to see what he says to me, and what my reply will be when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD spoke to me, and said, Write down this vision, and inscribe it clearly on tablets so one may easily read it.

3 For the vision awaits its appointed time, but in the end it will be carried out, and will not fail: though it takes time, wait for it; because it will certainly come, and it will not be late.

4 Think about this, he who is proud in heart is not righteous: but the just will live by his faith.

5 ¶ Then too, because riches deceive, a proud man cannot rest, he gets to be as greedy as the grave, and like death cannot be satisfied, but gathers all nations to himself, and collects all peoples for himself:

6 Will not all these take up a parable and a taunting proverb against him saying, Woe to him who enriches himself with what is not his! how long will it last? and to him who loads himself down with debt!

7 Won’t creditors suddenly rise up against you, and those who make you tremble awake, then you will be their victim for plunder?

8 Because you have robbed many nations, all the rest of the people will rob you; because of the men’s blood you shed, and because of the violence done to the land, the city, and all who live in it.

9 Woe to him who desires what is gained through evil for his house, that he may set his nest on high, thinking that he may thus escape calamity!

10 You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many people, and have sinned against your soul.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam will answer it from the frame.

12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!

13 Consider this, is it not of the LORD of armies that people labor only to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

15 ¶ Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, who pours out his bottle to him, and makes him drunk, in order to look on his nakedness!

16 You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory: drink yourself, and be like the uncircumcised: the cup in the LORD’S right hand will be turned against you, and shameful spewing will cover your glory.

17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the slaughter of beasts will terrify you, because of men’s blood, and the violence done to lands, and cities, and all who live in them.

18 Of what use is a graven image after its maker carves it? It is only an idol, and a teacher of lies, for the workman makes idols that cannot speak, and trusts in his own creation.

19 Woe to him who says to the wood, Awake; to a dumb stone, Arise, it will teach! Behold, it is covered with gold and silver, and there is no spirit in it at all.

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silent before him.