Habakkuk 1

1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

The Prophets Question

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, Violence! And You will not save.3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

The Lords Reply

5 Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches 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 more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.9 They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.10 They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.11 Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.

The Prophets Second Question

12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.13  You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?14  Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?15 They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad.16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.17 Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?

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?