Chapter
2
I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what she will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
Yahweh answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that she may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay.
Behold, her soul is puffed up. It is not upright in her, but the righteous will live by her faith.
Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous. A haughty woman who doesn't stay at home, who enlarges her desire as Sheol, and she is like death, and can't be satisfied, but gathers to herself all nations, and heaps to herself all peoples.
Won't all these take up a parable against her, and a taunting proverb against her, and say, 'Woe to her who increases that which is not hers, and who enriches herself by extortion! How long?'
Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim?
Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of women's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.
Woe to her who gets an evil gain for her house, that she may set her nest on high, that she may be delivered from the hand of evil!
You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul.
For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.
Woe to her who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!
Behold, isn't it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.
"Woe to her who gives her neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!
You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.
For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of women's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.
"What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that she who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?
Woe to her 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 in the midst of it.
But Yahweh is in her holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before her!"