The LORD Almighty will bring them crashing down like branches cut off a tree. The proudest and highest of them will be cut down and humiliated.

The LORD Almighty has sworn an oath: "What I have planned will happen. What I have determined to do will be done.

The LORD Almighty is determined to do this; he has stretched out his arm to punish, and no one can stop him.

From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.

I am calling a man to come from the east; he will swoop down like a hawk and accomplish what I have planned. I have spoken, and it will be done.

You cry out, 'Sword of the LORD! How long will you go on slashing? Go back to your scabbard, stay there and rest!'

But how can it rest, when I have given it work to do? I have commanded it to attack Ashkelon and the people who live on the coast."

Then pray, ' LORD, you have said that you would destroy this place, so that there would be no living creatures in it, neither people nor animals, and it would be like a desert forever.'

They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen.

All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning.

God did this according to his eternal purpose, which he achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord.

A day is coming when human pride will be ended and human arrogance destroyed. Then the LORD alone will be exalted.

Human pride will be ended, and human arrogance will be destroyed. Idols will completely disappear, and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.

Everyone will be disgraced, and all who are proud will be humbled.

But the LORD Almighty shows his greatness by doing what is right, and he reveals his holiness by judging his people.

The LORD says, "I will bring disaster on the earth and punish all wicked people for their sins. I will humble everyone who is proud and punish everyone who is arrogant and cruel.

Look at those who are proud; pour out your anger and humble them.

Yes, look at them and bring them down; crush the wicked where they stand.

"And now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just, and he can humble anyone who acts proudly."

The LORD Almighty says, "The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.

But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

He disgraces those in power and puts an end to the strength of rulers.

he showed contempt for their oppressors and made them wander in trackless deserts.

Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing.

He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.