Habakkuk 2:13

Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing. ¹ 

Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labour is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

"Is it not indeed from the LORD of hosts That peoples toil for fire, And nations grow weary for nothing?

Has not the LORD Almighty promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!

Don't you know that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies makes sure nothing comes of that but ashes, Makes sure the harder you work at that kind of thing, the less you are?

See, is it not the pleasure of the Lord of armies that the peoples are working for the fire and using themselves up for nothing?

Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor only to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing?

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts That the peoples labor to feed the fire, And nations weary themselves in vain?

Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing. ¹ 

¹ tn Heb “Is it not, look, from the Lord of hosts that the nations work hard for fire, and the peoples are exhausted for nothing?”