1 T he burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

The burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and You will not hear? Or cry out to You of violence and You will not save?

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and You will not hear? Or cry out to You of violence and You will not save?

3 W hy do You show me iniquity and wrong, and Yourself look upon or cause me to see perverseness and trouble? For destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention arises.

Why do You show me iniquity and wrong, and Yourself look upon or cause me to see perverseness and trouble? For destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention arises.

4 T herefore the law is slackened and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth, for the wicked surrounds the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.

Therefore the law is slackened and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth, for the wicked surrounds the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.

5 L ook around among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days that you would not believe it if it were told you.

Look around among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days that you would not believe it if it were told you.

6 F or behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation who march through the breadth of the earth to take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them.

For behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation who march through the breadth of the earth to take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them.

7 a re terrible and dreadful; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.

are terrible and dreadful; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.

8 T heir horses also are swifter than leopards and are fiercer than the evening wolves, and their horsemen spread themselves and press on proudly; yes, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle that hastens to devour.

Their horses also are swifter than leopards and are fiercer than the evening wolves, and their horsemen spread themselves and press on proudly; yes, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle that hastens to devour.

9 T hey all come for violence; their faces turn eagerly forward, and they gather prisoners together like sand.

They all come for violence; their faces turn eagerly forward, and they gather prisoners together like sand.

10 T hey scoff at kings, and rulers are a derision to them; they ridicule every stronghold, for they heap up dust and take it.

They scoff at kings, and rulers are a derision to them; they ridicule every stronghold, for they heap up dust and take it.

11 T hen they sweep by like a wind and pass on, and they load themselves with guilt, whose own power is their god.

Then they sweep by like a wind and pass on, and they load themselves with guilt, whose own power is their god.

12 A re not You from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed to execute judgment, and You, O Rock, have established him for chastisement and correction.

Are not You from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed to execute judgment, and You, O Rock, have established him for chastisement and correction.

13 Y ou are of purer eyes than to behold evil and can not look upon injustice. Why then do You look upon the plunderer? Why are you silent when the wicked one destroys him who is more righteous than is?

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and can not look upon injustice. Why then do You look upon the plunderer? Why are you silent when the wicked one destroys him who is more righteous than is?

14 W hy do You make men like the fish of the sea, like reptiles and creeping things that have no ruler ?

Why do You make men like the fish of the sea, like reptiles and creeping things that have no ruler ?

15 b rings all of them up with his hook; he catches and drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is in high spirits.

brings all of them up with his hook; he catches and drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is in high spirits.

16 T herefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, because from them he lives luxuriously and his food is plentiful and rich.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, because from them he lives luxuriously and his food is plentiful and rich.

17 S hall he therefore continue to empty his net and mercilessly go on slaying the nations forever?

Shall he therefore continue to empty his net and mercilessly go on slaying the nations forever?