"Will not allof thesetakeup a taunt-songagainsthim, Even mockery[and] insinuationsagainst him And say,Woeto him who increaseswhat is not his-- For howlong--And makeshimself richwith loans?'
Howlongshall the wicked,O LORD,Howlongshall the wickedexult?
He who oppressesthe poorto makemorefor himself Or who givesto the rich,[will] only[come to] poverty.
For he has said,"By the powerof my handand by my wisdomI did[this], For I haveunderstanding;And I removedthe boundariesof the peoplesAnd plunderedtheir treasures,And like a mightymanI broughtdown[their] inhabitants,
He feedson ashes;a deceivedhearthas turnedhim aside.And he cannotdeliverhimself,norsay,"Is there not a liein my righthand?"
Woeto those who addhouseto house[and] joinfieldto field,Untilthere is nomoreroom,So that you have to livealonein the midstof the land!
"Whydo you spendmoneyfor what is not bread,And your wagesfor whatdoes not satisfy?Listencarefullyto Me, and eatwhatis good,And delightyourselfin abundance.
"As a partridgethat hatcheseggswhich it has not laid,[So] is he who makesa fortune,but unjustly;In the midstof his daysit will forsakehim, And in the endhe will be a fool."
Becauseof them a cursewill be usedby allthe exilesfrom Judahwhoare in Babylon,saying,"May the LORDmakeyou like Zedekiahand like Ahab,whomthe kingof Babylonroastedin the fire,
"Becauseof the indignationof the LORDshe will not be inhabited,But she will be completelydesolate;Everyonewho passesby Babylonwill be horrifiedAnd will hissbecauseof allher wounds.
"The strongamong the mightyonesshall speakof him [and] his helpersfrom the midstof Sheol,'They have gonedown,they liestill,the uncircumcised,slainby the sword.'
"On that daythey will takeup againstyou a tauntAnd uttera bitterlamentation[and] say,'We are completelydestroyed!He exchangesthe portionof my people;HowHe removesit from me! To the apostateHe apportionsour fields.'
[The Chaldeans] bringallof them up with a hook,Dragthem awaywith their net,And gatherthem together in their fishingnet.Thereforethey rejoiceand are glad.
"Woeto him who buildsa citywith bloodshedAnd foundsa townwith violence!
"Is it not indeedfrom the LORDof hostsThat peoplestoilfor fire,And nationsgrowwearyfor nothing?
Then he tookup his discourseand said,"Arise,O Balak,and hear;Giveearto me, O sonof Zippor!
He tookup his discourseand said,"From AramBalakhas broughtme, Moab'skingfrom the mountainsof the East,ComecurseJacobfor me, And come,denounceIsrael!'
"But Godsaidto him, 'You fool!This[very] nightyour soulis requiredof you; and [now] whowill own whatyou have prepared?'
The endof all thingsis near;therefore,be of sound judgmentand sober[spirit] for the purpose of prayer.
