9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,

setting his nest on high

to escape the clutches of ruin!

10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11 The stones of the wall will cry out,

and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

and establishes a town by injustice!

13 Has not the Lord Almighty determined

that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,

that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea.

9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house,

That he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house

By cutting off many people,

And hast sinned against thy soul.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall,

And the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood,

And stablisheth a city by iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts

That the people shall labour in the very fire,

And the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

9 “What sorrow awaits you who build big houses

with money gained dishonestly!

You believe your wealth will buy security,

putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.

10 But by the murders you committed,

you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.

11 The very stones in the walls cry out against you,

and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.

12 “What sorrow awaits you who build cities

with money gained through murder and corruption!

13 Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised

that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes?

They work so hard,

but all in vain!

14 For as the waters fill the sea,

the earth will be filled with an awareness

of the glory of the Lord.

9 “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,

That he may set his nest on high,

That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!

10 You give shameful counsel to your house,

Cutting off many peoples,

And sin against your soul.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,

And the beam from the timbers will answer it.

12 “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed,

Who establishes a city by iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts

That the peoples labor to feed the fire,

And nations weary themselves in vain?

14 For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

9 “How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong,

thinking they will live in a safe place

and escape harm.

10 Because you have made plans to destroy many people,

you have made your own houses ashamed of you.

Because of it, you will lose your lives.

11 The stones of the walls will cry out against you,

and the boards that support the roof will agree that you are wrong.

12 “How terrible it will be for the nation that kills people to build a city,

that wrongs others to start a town.

13 The Lord All-Powerful will send fire

to destroy what those people have built;

all the nations’ work will be for nothing.

14 Then, just as water covers the sea,

people everywhere will know the Lord’s glory.

9 Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil! 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity! 13 Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

9 Woe to him that getteth iniquitous gain to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the grasp of evil! 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thine own soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by unrighteousness! 13 Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.

9 “ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who uses violence 

to get things for his own household 

in order to set his nest up high 

and save himself from disaster.’ 

10 You have planned disgrace for your household 

by cutting off many people and forfeiting your own life. 

11 A stone in the wall will cry out. 

A beam in the roof will answer it. 

12 “ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who builds a city by slaughter 

and founds a town by crime.’ 

13 Isn’t it from the Lord of Armies 

that people grow tired only to feed the flames 

and nations exhaust themselves for nothing? 

14 But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory 

like the water covers the sea. 

9 Woe to him who dishonestly makes

wealth for his house

to place his nest on high,

to escape from the reach of disaster!

10 You have planned shame for your house

by wiping out many peoples

and sinning against your own self.

11 For the stones will cry out from the wall,

and the rafters will answer them

from the woodwork.

12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

and founds a town with injustice!

13 Is it not from the Lord of Hosts

that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire

and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory,

as the waters cover the sea.

9 “Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses,

setting your nest on high

to be safe from the reach of harm!”

10 You have devised shame for your house

by cutting off many peoples;

you have forfeited your life.

11 The very stones will cry out from the wall,

and the plaster will respond from the woodwork.

12 “Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed,

and found a city on iniquity!”

13 Is it not from the Lord of hosts

that peoples labor only to feed the flames,

and nations weary themselves for nothing?

14 But the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

as the waters cover the sea.

9 Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house,

to set his nest on high,

to be saved from the hand of misfortune!

10 You have plotted shame for your house,

cutting off many peoples

and sinning against your life.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,

and the plaster from the wood will answer it.

12 Woe to him who builds a city by bloodguilt,

and who founds a city by wickedness!

13 Look! Is it not from Yahweh of hosts

that people labor for mere fire,

and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?

14 For the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh,

like the waters covering the sea.

9 “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!

They build their kingdom with money

they gained by cheating others.

They have tried to make the kingdom

as secure as possible.

After all, they did not want to be destroyed.

10 They have planned to wipe out many nations.

But they have brought shame on their own kingdom.

So they must pay with their own lives.

11 The stones in the walls of their homes will cry out.

And the wooden beams will echo that cry.

12 “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!

They build cities by spilling the blood of others.

They establish towns by committing crimes.

13 I am the Lord who rules over all.

Human effort is no better than wood that feeds a fire.

So the nations wear themselves out for nothing.

14 The oceans are full of water.

In the same way, the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of my glory.

9 “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house

To put his nest on high,

To be delivered from the hand of calamity!

10 “You have devised a shameful thing for your house

By cutting off many peoples;

So you are sinning against yourself.

11 “Surely the stone will cry out from the wall,

And the rafter will answer it from the framework.

12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

And founds a town with violence!

13 “Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts

That peoples toil for fire,

And nations grow weary for nothing?

14 “For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.