2 I will stand at my watch^(A)
    and station myself on the ramparts;^(B)
I will look to see what he will say^(C) to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.^[a](D)

“Write^(E) down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald^[b] may run with it.
³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;^(F)
    it speaks of the end^(G)
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait^(H) for it;
    it^[c] will certainly come
    and will not delay.^(I)

⁴ “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person^(J) will live by his faithfulness^[d](K)—
⁵ indeed, wine^(L) betrays him;
    he is arrogant^(M) and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
    and like death is never satisfied,^(N)
he gathers to himself all the nations
    and takes captive^(O) all the peoples.

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,^(A)
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,^(B)
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,^(C)
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.^(D)

¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength;^(E)
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.^(F)

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.