When someone comes to visit, ¹  he pretends to be friendly; ²  he thinks of ways to defame me, ³  and when he leaves he slanders me. ⁴ 

The Egyptians will panic, ¹  and I will confuse their strategy. ²  They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead, from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians. ³ 

Look, the Lord is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

For the Lord will restore ¹  the majesty ²  of Jacob, as well as ³  the majesty of Israel, though ⁴  their enemies have plundered them ⁵  and have destroyed their fields. ⁶ 

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless. ¹ 

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.

But I am sending ¹  these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready ²  just as I kept telling them.

You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,

For by speaking high-sounding but empty words ¹  they are able to entice, ²  with fleshly desires and with debauchery, ³  people ⁴  who have just escaped ⁵  from those who reside in error. ⁶ 

In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. ¹  No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.” ² 

For I will rouse into action and bring against Babylon a host of mighty nations ¹  from the land of the north. They will set up their battle lines against her. They will come from the north and capture her. ²  Their arrows will be like a skilled soldier ³  who does not return from the battle empty-handed. ⁴ 

thus ¹  I have been made to inherit ²  months of futility, ³  and nights of sorrow ⁴  have been appointed ⁵  to me.

“Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, ¹  or fill his belly ²  with the east wind? ³ 

I grind them as fine windblown dust; ¹  I beat them underfoot ²  like clay ³  in the streets.

Take note of my brief lifespan! ¹  Why do you make all people so mortal? ² 

Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground. ¹ 

and the Lord has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned. ¹ 

He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant.

They will know that I am the Lord; my threats to bring this catastrophe on them were not empty.’ ¹ 

But avoid profane chatter, ¹  because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, ²