Habakkuk 1

Chapter 1

1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,
but you do not come to save.3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
who love to argue and fight.4 The law has become paralyzed,
and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
so that justice has become perverted.

The LORD’s Reply

5 The LORD replied,
“Look around at the nations;
look and be amazed!t
For I am doing something in your own day,
something you wouldn’t believe
even if someone told you about it.6 I am raising up the Babylonians,t
a cruel and violent people.
They will march across the world
and conquer other lands.7 They are notorious for their cruelty
and do whatever they like.8 Their horses are swifter than cheetahst
and fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their charioteers charge from far away.
Like eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey.9 “On they come, all bent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind,
sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.10 They scoff at kings and princes
and scorn all their fortresses.
They simply pile ramps of earth
against their walls and capture them!11 They sweep past like the wind
and are gone.
But they are deeply guilty,
for their own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—
surely you do not plan to wipe us out?
O LORD, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us,
to punish us for our many sins.13 But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil.
Will you wink at their treachery?
Should you be silent while the wicked
swallow up people more righteous than they?14 Are we only fish to be caught and killed?
Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?15 Must we be strung up on their hooks
and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?16 Then they will worship their nets
and burn incense in front of them.
“These nets are the gods who have made us rich!”
they will claim.17 Will you let them get away with this forever?
Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?

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?