² How long,^(C) Lord, must I call for help^(D)
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence^(E)
and you do not save?
³ Why do you force me to look at injustice?^(F)
Why do you tolerate^[a] wrongdoing?
Oppression and violence are right in front of me.
Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.
⁴ This is why the law is ineffective
and justice never emerges.
For the wicked restrict^(G) the righteous;
therefore, justice^(H) comes out perverted.

⁵ Look at the nations^[b](I) and observe^(J)—
be utterly astounded!^(K)
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe^(L)
when you hear about it.^(M)
6 Look! I am raising up^(N) the Chaldeans,^[c]
that bitter,^(O) impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
⁷ They are fierce^(P) and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
⁸ Their horses are swifter^(Q) than leopards^(R)
and more fierce^[d] than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.^(S)
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces^(T) are set in determination.^[e]
They gather^(U) prisoners like sand.^(V)
10 They mock^(W) kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh^(X) at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture^(Y) it.
¹¹ Then they sweep^(Z) by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty;^[f] their strength is their god.

¹² Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?^(AA)
My Holy One,^(AB) you^[g] will not die.
Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock,^(AC) you destined them to punish us.
¹³ Your eyes^(AD) are too pure^(AE) to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?^(AF)
Why are you silent
while one^[h] who is wicked swallows up
one^[i] who is more righteous than himself?
¹⁴ You have made mankind
like the fish of the sea,^(AG)
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
¹⁵ The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,^(AH)
and gather them in their fishing net;
that is why they are glad and rejoice.
¹⁶ That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet
and burn incense to their fishing net,
for by these things their portion is rich
and their food plentiful.^(AI)
17 Will they therefore empty their net
and continually slaughter nations without mercy?