"Howboastfulyou are about the valleys!Your valleyis flowing[away], O backslidingdaughterWho trustsin her treasures,[saying], 'Whowill comeagainstme?'
Even those who trustin their wealthAnd boastin the abundanceof their riches?
"Behold,the manwho would not makeGodhis refuge,But trustedin the abundanceof his riches[And] was strongin his [evil] desire."
Do not trustin oppressionAnd do not vainlyhopein robbery;Ifrichesincrease,do not set[your] heart[upon them].
The richman'swealthis his fortress,The ruinof the pooris their poverty.
"Behold,I am againstyou, O valleydweller,O rockyplain,"declaresthe LORD,"You men who say,Whowill comedownagainstus? Or whowill enterinto our habitations?'
Return,O faithlesssons,'declaresthe LORD;For I am a masterto you, And I will takeyou onefrom a cityand twofrom a family,And I will bringyou to Zion.'
"Howlongwill you gohereand there,O faithlessdaughter?For the LORDhas createda newthingin the earth--A womanwill encompassa man."
"For becauseof your trustin your own achievementsand treasures,Evenyou yourselfwill be captured;And Chemoshwill gooffinto exileTogetherwith his priestsand his princes.
"As for the terrorof you, The arroganceof your hearthas deceivedyou, O you who livein the cleftsof the rock,Who occupythe heightof the hill.Thoughyou makeyour nestas highas an eagle's,I will bringyou downfrom there,"declaresthe LORD.
"Yet they did not obeyor inclinetheir ear,but walkedin [their own] counsels[and] in the stubbornnessof their evilheart,and wentbackwardand not forward.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Let not a wisemanboastof his wisdom,and let not the mightymanboastof his might,let not a richmanboastof his riches;
SinceIsraelis stubbornLike a stubbornheifer,Can the LORDnowpasturethem Like a lambin a largefield?
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
"To the degreethat she glorifiedherselfand lived sensuously,to the same degreegiveher tormentand mourning;for she saysin her heart,I SIT[as] A QUEENAND I AMNOT A WIDOW,and will neverseemourning.'
