1. I will stand like a guard and watch. I will wait to see what the Lord will say to me. I will wait and learn how he answers my questions.
2. The Lord answered me, “Write down what I show you. Write it clearly on a sign so that the message will be easy to read.
3. This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late.
4. This message cannot help those who refuse to listen to it, but those who are good will live because they believe it.
5. “Wine can trick a person. In the same way a strong man’s pride can fool him, but he will not find peace. He is like death—he always wants more and more. And, like death, he will never be satisfied. He will continue to defeat other nations and to make those people his prisoners.
6. But soon enough, all those people will laugh at him and tell stories about his defeat. They will laugh and say, ‘It’s too bad that the man who took so many things will not get to keep them! He made himself rich by collecting debts.’
7. “Strong man, you have taken money from people. One day they will wake up and realize what is happening, and they will stand against you. Then they will take things from you, and you will be very afraid.
8. You have stolen things from many nations, so they will take much from you. You have killed many people and destroyed lands and cities. You have killed all the people there.
9. “Look at you people! You get rich by cheating people, and it hurts your own family! You build your houses high on the cliffs to protect yourself from danger.
10. You planned shameful things, and that will bring shame to your own family. You have done wrong, and it will cost you your life.
11. The stones of the walls will cry out against you. Even the wooden rafters in your own house will prove that you are wrong.