“One man dies in his full vigor, ¹  completely secure and prosperous,

Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, ¹  those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. ² 

If ¹  I say, ²  “My bed will comfort me, ³  my couch will ease ⁴  my complaint,”

For calamity, ¹  there is derision (according to the ideas of the fortunate ² ) – a fate ³  for those whose feet slip!

There ¹  the prisoners ²  relax ³  together; ⁴  they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. ⁵ 

I have no ease, ¹  I have no quietness; I cannot rest; ²  turmoil has come upon me.” ³ 

We have had our fill ¹  of the taunts of the self-assured, of the contempt of the proud.

But the one who listens ¹  to me will live in security, ²  and will be at ease ³  from the dread of harm.

For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

You complacent ¹  women, get up and listen to me! You carefree ²  daughters, pay attention to what I say!

Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves – put sackcloth on your waist! ¹ 

Woe ¹  to those who live in ease in Zion, ²  to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria. They think of themselves as ³  the elite class of the best nation. The family ⁴  of Israel looks to them for leadership. ⁵ 

(4:1) ¹  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home, ²  living luxuriously ³  in my palace.

I was in peace, and he has shattered me. ¹  He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. ²  He has made me his target;

The Lord says, ¹  “Army of Babylon, ²  go and attack a nation that lives in peace and security. They have no gates or walls to protect them. ³  They live all alone.

But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. ¹  I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves.

“‘See here – this was the iniquity ¹  of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help ²  the poor and needy.

“But ¹  if I speak, my pain is not relieved, ²  and if I refrain from speaking – how ³  much of it goes away?

For the waywardness ¹  of the simpletons will kill ²  them, and the careless ease ³  of fools will destroy them.

They experience his favor; ¹  their descendants ²  inherit the land. ³