1:2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?
But you do not listen!
I call out to you, “Violence!”
But you do not intervene! 1
1:3 Why do you force me to witness injustice? 2
Why do you put up with wrongdoing? 3
Destruction and violence confront 4 me;
conflict is present and one must endure strife. 5
1:4 For this reason the law lacks power, 6
and justice is never carried out. 7
Indeed, 8 the wicked intimidate 9 the innocent. 10
For this reason justice is perverted. 11
1:5 “Look at the nations and pay attention! 12
You will be shocked and amazed! 13
For I will do something in your lifetime 14
that you will not believe even though you are forewarned. 15
1:6 Look, I am about to empower 16 the Babylonians,
that ruthless 17 and greedy 18 nation.
They sweep across the surface 19 of the earth,
seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
1:7 They are frightening and terrifying;
they decide for themselves what is right. 20
1:8 Their horses are faster than leopards
and more alert 21 than wolves in the desert. 22
Their horses 23 gallop, 24
their horses come a great distance;
like a vulture 25 they swoop down quickly to devour their prey. 26
1:9 All of them intend 27 to do violence;
every face is determined. 28
They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand. 29
1:10 They mock kings
and laugh at rulers.
They laugh at every fortified city;
they build siege ramps 30 and capture them.