6. Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nationthat marches across the earth’s open spacesto seize territories not its own.
7. They are fierce and terrifying;their views of justice and sovereigntystem from themselves.
8. Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves of the night.Their horsemen charge ahead;their horsemen come from distant lands.They fly like an eagle, swooping to devour.
9. All of them come to do violence;their faces are set in determination. They gather prisoners like sand.
10. They mock kings,and rulers are a joke to them.They laugh at every fortressand build siege ramps to capture it.
11. Then they sweep by like the windand pass through.They are guilty; their strength is their god.
12. Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God? My Holy One, You will not die.Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment;my Rock, You destined them to punish us.
13. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silentwhile one who is wicked swallows upone who is more righteous than himself?
14. You have made mankindlike the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler.
15. The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,catch them in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net;that is why they are glad and rejoice.
16. That is why they sacrifice to their dragnetand burn incense to their fishing net,for by these things their portion is richand their food plentiful.
17. Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?