² How long,^(B) Lord, must I call for help^(C)
and You do not listen
or cry out to You about violence
and You do not save?
³ Why do You force me to look at injustice?^(D)
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^(E) the righteous;
therefore, justice^(F) comes out perverted.

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

¹² Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God?
My Holy One,^(Y) You^[g] will not die.
Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock,^(Z) You destined them to punish us.
¹³ Your eyes^(AA) are too pure^(AB) to look on evil,
and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous?^(AC)
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,^(AD)
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
¹⁵ The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,^(AE)
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.^(AF)
17 Will they therefore empty their net^[j]
and continually slaughter nations without mercy?