2 I will stand like a guard to watch
    and ·place [station] myself at the tower.
I will wait to see what he will say to me;
    I will wait to learn how ·God will answer [or I will answer concerning] my complaint.

⁵ “Just as wine ·can trick [betrays] a person,
    those who are too proud will not ·last, [have rest; settle down]
·because their desire is like a grave’s desire for death [^Lhe opens wide his throat like Sheol; ^Cthe grave or the underworld],
    and like death they always want more.
They gather other nations for themselves
    and collect for themselves all the ·countries [peoples].
⁶ But all ·the nations the Babylonians have hurt [^Lthese] will ·laugh at [taunt] them.
    They will ·make fun of the Babylonians [ridicule with riddles]
and say, ‘·How terrible it will be for [^LWoe to] the one that ·steals many things [^Lpiles up what is not his].
    How long will that nation get rich by ·forcing others to pay them [extortion; goods taken in pledge]?’

⁷ “·One day the people from whom you have taken money will [^LWill not your creditors…?] turn against you.
    They will ·realize what is happening [^Lwake up] and make you shake with fear.
    Then ·they will take everything you have [^Lyou will become their plunder].
⁸ Because you have ·stolen from [plundered] many nations,
    those who are left will ·take much from [plunder] you.
·This is because you have killed many people [For the human blood you have shed],
    ·destroying [violently attacking] countries and cities and everyone in them.

⁹ “·How terrible it will be for the nation [^LWoe to him] that ·becomes rich by doing wrong [builds his house with unjust gain; or acquires evil gain for his own house],
    thinking they will ·live in a safe place [^Lset his nest on high]
    and escape ·harm [^Lthe hand of evil].
¹⁰ Because you have ·made plans [plotted; schemed] to ·destroy [^Lcut off] many people,
    you have brought shame to your house.
    Because of it, you will ·lose your lives [forfeit your soul/life].
¹¹ The stones of the walls [^Cof the “house” of Babylon] will cry out against you,
    and the ·boards that support the roof [beams of the woodwork] will ·agree that you are wrong [echo the complaint; ^Lanswer back].

¹² “·How terrible it will be for the nation [^LWoe to him] that ·kills people [uses bloodshed] to build a city,
    that ·wrongs others [uses injustice] to start a town.
¹³ [^LLook; ^TBehold] The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts] will send fire
    to destroy what those people have built;
    all the nations’ ·work [weariness] will be for nothing.
¹⁴ Then, just as water covers the sea,
    ·people everywhere will know [^Lthe earth will be filled with the knowledge of] the Lord’s glory.

¹⁵ “·How terrible for the nation that [^LWoe to him who] makes its neighbors drink,
    pouring ·from the jug of wine [or out your wrath] until they are drunk
    so that it can look at their naked bodies.
¹⁶ ·You Babylonians [^LYou] will be filled with ·disgrace [shame], not ·respect [glory].
    It’s your turn to drink and ·fall to the ground [or expose your uncircumcision] like a drunk person.
The ·cup of anger [^Lcup; Jer. 25:15–29] from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you.
    You will receive ·disgrace [shame], not ·respect [glory].
¹⁷ You ·hurt many people [did violence] in Lebanon,
    but now you will be ·hurt [overwhelmed by it].
You killed many animals there,
    and now you must be afraid
because of ·what you did [the blood and violence you did]
    to that land, those cities, and the people who lived in them.