5 indeed, wine betrays him;

he is arrogant and never at rest.

Because he is as greedy as the grave

and like death is never satisfied,

he gathers to himself all the nations

and takes captive all the peoples.

6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods

and makes himself wealthy by extortion!

How long must this go on?’

7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise?

Will they not wake up and make you tremble?

Then you will become their prey.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

the peoples who are left will plunder you.

For you have shed human blood;

you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

5 “Moreover, wine is a traitor,

an arrogant man who is never at rest.

His greed is as wide as Sheol;

like death he has never enough.

He gathers for himself all nations

and collects as his own all peoples.”

6 Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,

“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—

for how long?—

and loads himself with pledges!”

7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise,

and those awake who will make you tremble?

Then you will be spoil for them.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,

for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

to cities and all who dwell in them.

5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, He is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, Who enlargeth his desire as hell, And is as death, and cannot be satisfied, But gathereth unto him all nations, And heapeth unto him all people: 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, And a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? And to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, And awake that shall vex thee, And thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, All the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; Because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, Of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

5 Wealth is treacherous,

and the arrogant are never at rest.

They open their mouths as wide as the grave,

and like death, they are never satisfied.

In their greed they have gathered up many nations

and swallowed many peoples.

6 “But soon their captives will taunt them.

They will mock them, saying,

‘What sorrow awaits you thieves!

Now you will get what you deserve!

You’ve become rich by extortion,

but how much longer can this go on?’

7 Suddenly, your debtors will take action.

They will turn on you and take all you have,

while you stand trembling and helpless.

8 Because you have plundered many nations;

now all the survivors will plunder you.

You committed murder throughout the countryside

and filled the towns with violence.

5 “Just as wine can trick a person,

those who are too proud will not last,

because their desire is like a grave’s desire for death,

and like death they always want more.

They gather other nations for themselves

and collect for themselves all the countries.

6 But all the nations the Babylonians have hurt will laugh at them.

They will make fun of the Babylonians

and say, ‘How terrible it will be for the one that steals many things.

How long will that nation get rich by forcing others to pay them?’

7 “One day the people from whom you have taken money will turn against you.

They will realize what is happening and make you shake with fear.

Then they will take everything you have.

8 Because you have stolen from many nations,

those who are left will take much from you.

This is because you have killed many people,

destroying countries and cities and everyone in them.

5 Yea, moreover, wine is treacherous, a haughty man, that keepeth not at home; who enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples. 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them? 8 Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.

5 And moreover, the wine is treacherous: he is a proud man, and keepeth not at rest, he enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is like death and cannot be satisfied; and he assembleth unto him all nations, and gathereth unto him all peoples. 6 Shall not all these take up a proverb about him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? —and to him that loadeth himself with pledges! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and they awake up that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8 Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples shall plunder thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city, and all that dwell therein.

5 Also because wine is treacherous 

he is arrogant and never rests. 

He has a large appetite like the grave. 

He is like death—never satisfied. 

He gathers all the nations to himself. 

He collects all the people to himself. 

6 Won’t all of them ridicule him, 

directing clever sayings and riddles at him, like: 

“ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich 

with what is not his own 

and makes himself wealthy on loans. 

How long will this go on?’ 

7 Won’t your creditors suddenly rise up 

and those who are going to shake you wake up? 

Then you will become their prize. 

8 You have looted many nations. 

All the rest of the people will loot you 

because of the slaughter and violence done 

to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants. 

5 Moreover, wine betrays;

an arrogant man is never at rest.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

and like Death he is never satisfied.

He gathers all the nations to himself;

he collects all the peoples for himself.

6 Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,

with mockery and riddles about him?

They will say:

Woe to him who amasses what is not his—

how much longer?—

and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.

7 Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,

and those who disturb you wake up?

Then you will become spoil for them.

8 Since you have plundered many nations,

all the peoples who remain will plunder you—

because of human bloodshed

and violence against lands, cities,

and all who live in them.

5 Moreover, wealth is treacherous;

the arrogant do not endure.

They open their throats wide as Sheol;

like Death they never have enough.

They gather all nations for themselves,

and collect all peoples as their own.

6 Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them,

“Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!”

How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge?

7 Will not your own creditors suddenly rise,

and those who make you tremble wake up?

Then you will be booty for them.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you—

because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth,

to cities and all who live in them.

5 How much less the defiant;

the arrogant, treacherous man?

He who broadens his throat like Sheol,

and who, like death, is not satisfied,

and who gathers to himself all the nations,

and harvested for himself all the peoples,

will not succeed.

6 Shall not all of these take up a taunt against him,

with ridicule and riddles against him, saying,

‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his’?

For how long?

And, ‘Woe to him who makes himself heavy with pledges’?

7 Will not your creditors suddenly rise up

and awaken those who make you tremble?

Then you shall be as plunder for them.

8 Because you plundered many nations,

all the remaining nations will plunder you

on account of the blood of humanity

and violence against the land,

and against cities and all who live in them.

5 “Wine makes the Babylonians do foolish things.

They are proud. They never rest.

Like the grave, they are always hungry for more.

Like death, they are never satisfied.

They gather all of the nations to themselves.

They take their people away as prisoners.

6 “Won’t those people laugh at the Babylonians? Won’t they make fun of them? They will say to them,

“ ‘How terrible it will be for you

who pile up stolen goods!

You get rich by cheating others.

How long will that go on?

7 Those who owe you money will suddenly rise up.

You charge them too much interest.

So they will wake up

and make you tremble with fear.

Then they will take away

everything you have.

8 You have robbed many nations.

So the nations that are left will rob you.

You have spilled man’s blood.

You have destroyed lands and cities

and everyone in them.’

5 “Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man,

So that he does not stay at home.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

And he is like death, never satisfied.

He also gathers to himself all nations

And collects to himself all peoples.

6 “Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him,

Even mockery and insinuations against him

And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—

For how long—

And makes himself rich with loans?’

7 “Will not your creditors rise up suddenly,

And those who collect from you awaken?

Indeed, you will become plunder for them.

8 “Because you have looted many nations,

All the remainder of the peoples will loot you—

Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land,

To the town and all its inhabitants.