¹³ Has not the Lord Almighty determined
    that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,^(A)
    that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?^(B)

“Babylon’s thick wall^(A) will be leveled
    and her high gates^(B) set on fire;
the peoples^(C) exhaust^(D) themselves for nothing,
    the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”^(E)

¹¹ But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^(A)
go, walk in the light of your fires^(B)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:^(C)
    You will lie down in torment.^(D)

⁵ The islands^(A) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth^(B) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
⁶     they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!^(C)”
⁷ The metalworker^(D) encourages the goldsmith,^(E)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.^(F)

⁸ “But you, Israel, my servant,^(G)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,^(H)
    you descendants of Abraham^(I) my friend,^(J)

³⁰ There is no wisdom,^(A) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.^(B)

¹³ He catches the wise^(A) in their craftiness,^(B)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.^(C)
14 Darkness^(D) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.^(E)