² Our Lord, how long must I beg
for your help
    before you listen?
How long before you save us
    from all this violence?
³ Why do you make me watch
    such terrible injustice?
Why do you allow violence,
lawlessness, crime, and cruelty
    to spread everywhere?
⁴ Laws cannot be enforced;
    justice is always the loser;
criminals crowd out honest people
    and twist the laws around.

2 While standing guard
    on the watchtower,
I waited for the Lord's answer,
before explaining the reason
    for my complaint.^[a]
2 Then the Lord told me:
“I will give you my message
    in the form of a vision.
Write it clearly enough
    to be read at a glance.
^3 (A) At the time I have decided,
    my words will come true.
You can trust what I say
    about the future.
It may take a long time,
but keep on waiting—
    it will happen!