1 T he burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 J ehovah, how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee, Violence! and thou dost not save.

How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.

3 W hy dost thou cause me to see iniquity, and lookest thou upon grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.

Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.

4 T herefore the law is powerless, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked encompasseth the righteous; therefore judgment goeth forth perverted.

Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.

5 S ee ye among the nations, and behold, and wonder marvellously; for work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be declared.

“ Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days— You would not believe if you were told.

6 F or behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, which marcheth through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.

“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

7 T hey are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

“They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves.

8 A nd their horses are swifter than the leopards, and are more agile than the evening wolves; and their horsemen prance proudly, and their horsemen come from afar: they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.

“Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from afar; They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.

9 T hey come all of them for violence: the crowd of their faces is forwards, and they gather captives as the sand.

“All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand.

10 Y ea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a scorn unto him; he derideth every stronghold: for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.

“They mock at kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress And heap up rubble to capture it.

11 T hen will his mind change, and he will pass on, and become guilty: this his power is become his +god.

“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”

12 — Art thou not from everlasting, Jehovah my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast appointed him for correction.

Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O Lord, have appointed them to judge; And You, O Rock, have established them to correct.

13 o f purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on mischief: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, keepest silence when the wicked swalloweth up a more righteous than he?

Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?

14 A nd thou makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them.

Why have You made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them?

15 H e taketh up all of them with the hook, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them into his drag; therefore he rejoiceth and is glad:

The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, Drag them away with their net, And gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore they rejoice and are glad.

16 t herefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; for by them his portion is become fat, and his meat dainty.

Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.

17 S hall he therefore empty his net, and not spare to slay the nations continually?

Will they therefore empty their net And continually slay nations without sparing?