1. While standing guardon the watchtower,I waited for the Lord's answer,before explaining the reasonfor my complaint.
2. Then the Lord told me:“I will give you my messagein the form of a vision.Write it clearly enoughto be read at a glance.
3. At the time I have decided,my words will come true.You can trust what I sayabout the future.It may take a long time,but keep on waiting—it will happen!
4. “I, the Lord, refuse to acceptanyone who is proud.Only those who live by faithare acceptable to me.”
5. Wine is treacherous,and arrogant peopleare never satisfied.They are no less greedythan death itself—they open their mouths as wideas the world of the deadand swallow everyone.
6. But they will be mockedwith these words:You're doomed!You stored up stolen goodsand cheated othersof what belonged to them.
7. But without warning,those you owewill demand payment.Then you will becomea frightened victim.
8. You robbed cities and nationseverywhere on earthand murdered their people.Now those who survivedwill be as cruel to you.
9. You're doomed!You made your family richat the expense of others.You even said to yourself,“I'm above the law.”
10. But you will bring shameon your familyand ruin to yourselffor what you did to others.
11. The very stones and woodin your homewill testify against you.
12. You're doomed! You built a cityon crime and violence.
13. But the Lord All-Powerfulsends up in flameswhat nations and peoplework so hard to gain.
14. Just as water fills the sea,the land will be filledwith people who knowand honour the Lord.
15. You're doomed!You get your friends drunk,just to see them naked.
16. Now you will be disgracedinstead of praised.The Lord will make you drunk,and when others see you naked,you will lose their respect.
17. You destroyed trees and animalson Mount Lebanon;you were ruthless to townsand people everywhere.Now you will be terrorized.
18. What is an idol worth?It's merely a false god.Why trust a speechless imagemade from wood or metalby human hands?
19. What can you learn from idolscovered with silver or gold?They can't even breathe.Pity anyone who says to an idolof wood or stone,“Get up and do something!”
20. Let all the world be silent—the Lord is presentin his holy temple.