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.

12 “Woe to him who builds a town with blood

and founds a city on iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts

that peoples labor merely for fire,

and nations weary 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.