Habakkuk 1

1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.2 O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save.3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.4 Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.5 Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.7 They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.9 They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.10 Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.11 Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.12 Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction.13 Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;14 and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?15 He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.16 Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.17 Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?

HABAKKUK 1

1 I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the messaget that the [Lord] gave me.

Habakkuk Complains //to the [Lord]

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.

The [Lord] Answers //Habakkuk

5  t Look and be amazed
at what's happening
among the nations!
Even if you were told,
you would never believe
what's taking place now.

6  t I am sending the Babylonians.
They are fierce and cruel—
marching across the land,
conquering cities and towns.

7 How fearsome and frightening.
Their only laws and rules
are the ones they make up.

8 Their cavalry troops are faster
than leopards,
more ferocious than wolves
hunting at sunset,
and swifter than hungry eagles
suddenly swooping down.

9 They are eager to destroy, t
and they gather captives
like handfuls of sand.

10 They make fun of rulers
and laugh at fortresses,
while building dirt mounds
so they can capture cities.t

11 Then suddenly they disappear
like a gust of wind—
those sinful people who worship
their own strength.

Habakkuk Complains Again

12 Holy [Lord] God, mighty rock, t
you are eternal,
and wet are safe from death.
You are using those Babylonians
to judge and punish others.t

13 But you can't stand sin or wrong.
So don't sit by in silence
while they gobble up people
who are better than they are.

14 The people you put on this earth
are like fish or reptiles
without a leader.

15 Then an enemy comes along
and takes them captive
with hooks and nets.
It makes him so happy

16 that he offers sacrifices
to his fishing nets,
because they make him rich
and provide choice foods.

17 Will he keep hauling in his nets
and destroying nations
without showing mercy?