2:1 I will take my stand to watch, and station myself on the tower, and look forth to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
2:1 I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint.

2:2 And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it.
2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.

2:3 For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end -- it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
2:3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

2:4 Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
2:4 Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.

2:5 Moreover, wine is treacherous; the arrogant man shall not abide. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations, and collects as his own all peoples."
2:5 Moreover, wealth is treacherous; the arrogant do not endure. They open their throats wide as Sheol; like Death they never have enough. They gather all nations for themselves, and collect all peoples as their own.

2:6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, in scoffing derision of him, and say, "Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own -- for how long? -- and loads himself with pledges!"
2:6 Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them, "Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!" How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge?

2:7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be booty for them.
2:7 Will not your own creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will be booty for them.

2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of men and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell therein.
2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you--because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them.

2:9 Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!
2:9 "Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!"

2:10 You have devised shame to your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.
2:10 You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.

2:11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.
2:11 The very stones will cry out from the wall, and the plaster will respond from the woodwork.

2:12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and founds a city on iniquity!
2:12 "Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!"

2:13 Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor only for fire, and nations weary themselves for nought?
2:13 Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor only to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing?

2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
2:14 But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

2:15 Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink of the cup of his wrath, and makes them drunk, to gaze on their shame!
2:15 "Alas for you who make your neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath until they are drunk, in order to gaze on their nakedness!"

2:16 You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory!
2:16 You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, you yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory!

2:17 The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of the beasts will terrify you, for the blood of men and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell therein.
2:17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of the animals will terrify you-- because of human bloodshed and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them.

2:18 What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For the workman trusts in his own creation when he makes dumb idols!
2:18 What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it--a cast image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak!

2:19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a dumb stone, Arise! Can this give revelation? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.
2:19 Alas for you who say to the wood, "Wake up!" to silent stone, "Rouse yourself!" Can it teach? See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all.

2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.
2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!