I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. {tower: Heb. fenced place} {unto me: or, in me} {when...: or, when I am argued with: Heb. upon my reproof, or, arguing}

[A Song of degrees for Solomon.] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh {but} in vain. {for...: or, of Solomon} {that...: Heb. that are builders of it in it}

The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; {and} thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who {is} a chosen {man, that} I may appoint over her? for who {is} like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who {is} that shepherd that will stand before me? {appoint me...: or, convent me in judgment?}

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, {which} shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, {make...: or, are the LORD's remembrancers}

When I remember thee upon my bed, {and} meditate on thee in the {night} watches.

Their roaring {shall be} like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry {it} away safe, and none shall deliver {it}.

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who {is} a chosen {man, that} I may appoint over her? for who {is} like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who {is} that shepherd that will stand before me? {appoint me...: or, convent me to plead?}

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

His watchmen {are} blind: they are all ignorant, they {are} all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. {sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep}

He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger. {desolate: Heb. a desolation}

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. {tower: Heb. fenced place} {unto me: or, in me} {when...: or, when I am argued with: Heb. upon my reproof, or, arguing}

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Or ministry, {let us wait} on {our} ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

My soul {waiteth} for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: {I say, more than} they that watch for the morning. {I say...: or, which watch unto}

Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, {were} porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates. {thresholds: or, treasuries, or, assemblies}

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.