Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

She is harsh with her young, as if they were not hers; she is unconcerned about the uselessness of her labor.

I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)

Egypt is totally incapable of helping. For this reason I call her ‘Proud one who is silenced.’”

Your strength will be used up in vain, your land will not give its yield, and the trees of the land will not produce their fruit.

But I thought, “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me.

They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the Lord will bless their children and their descendants.

“King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon devoured me and drove my people out. Like a monster from the deep he swallowed me. He filled his belly with my riches. He made me an empty dish. He completely cleaned me out.”

Be 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.

I for my part will do this to you: I will inflict horror on you, consumption and fever, which diminish eyesight and drain away the vitality of life. You will sow your seed in vain because your enemies will eat it.

This is what the Lord who rules over all says, “Babylon’s thick wall will be completely demolished. Her high gates will be set on fire. The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.”