2:9 The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. 1
He does this so he can build his nest way up high
and escape the clutches of disaster. 2
2:10 Your schemes will bring shame to your house.
Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct. 3
1 tn Heb “Woe [to] the one who profits unjustly by evil unjust gain for his house.” On the term הוֹי (hoy) see the note on the word “dead” in v. 6.
2 tn Heb “to place his nest in the heights in order to escape from the hand of disaster.”
sn Here the Babylonians are compared to a bird, perhaps an eagle, that builds its nest in an inaccessible high place where predators cannot reach it.
3 tn Heb “you planned shame for your house, cutting off many nations, and sinning [against] your life.”