<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Look at the nations and pay attention!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You will be shocked and amazed!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For I will do something in your lifetime<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For the message is a witness to what is decreed;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Even if the message<n id="3" /> is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for it will certainly come to pass &#8211; it will not arrive late.p>

<p class="poetry">What good<n id="1" /> is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Why would its creator place his trust in it<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and make<n id="5" /> such mute, worthless things?p>

<p class="poetry">For the stones in the walls will cry out,p> <p class="poetry">and the wooden rafters will answer back.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Because of his success<n id="1" /> he offers sacrifices to his throw netp> <p class="poetry">and burns incense to his dragnet;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">for because of them he has plenty of food,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and more than enough to eat.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For recognition of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s sovereign majesty will fill the earthp> <p class="poetry">just as the waters fill up the sea.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">For this reason the law lacks power,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and justice is never carried out.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Indeed,<n id="3" /> the wicked intimidate<n id="4" /> the innocent.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">For this reason justice is perverted.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look, I am about to empower<n id="1" /> the Babylonians,p> <p class="poetry">that ruthless<n id="2" /> and greedy<n id="3" /> nation.p> <p class="poetry">They sweep across the surface<n id="4" /> of the earth,p> <p class="poetry">seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.p>

<p class="poetry">Because you robbed many countries,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all who are left among the nations<n id="2" /> will rob you.p> <p class="poetry">You have shed human bloodp> <p class="poetry">and committed violent acts against lands, cities,<n id="3" /> and those who live in them.p>

<p class="poetry">For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You have shed human bloodp> <p class="poetry">and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.p>

<p class="poetry">Is the <sc>Lordsc> mad at the rivers?p> <p class="poetry">Are you angry with the rivers?p> <p class="poetry">Are you enraged at the sea?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Is this why<n id="2" /> you climb into your horse-drawn chariots,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">your victorious chariots?<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Indeed, wine will betray the proud, restless man!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">His appetite<n id="2" /> is as big as Sheol&#8217;s;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">like death, he is never satisfied.p> <p class="poetry">He gathers<n id="4" /> all the nations;p> <p class="poetry">he seizes<n id="5" /> all peoples.p>

<p class="poetry">When<n id="1" /> the fig tree does not bud,p> <p class="poetry">and there are no grapes on the vines;p> <p class="poetry">when the olive trees do not produce,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and the fields yield no crops;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">when the sheep disappear<n id="4" /> from the pen,p> <p class="poetry">and there are no cattle in the stalls,p>