1 T he burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. The Prophet’s Question

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.

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 W hy do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.

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 T herefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds. The Lord ’s Reply

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 “ 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.

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 F or 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.

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 T hey are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

8 T heir 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.

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 all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.

They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.

10 T hey scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.

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 T hen his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.” The Prophet’s Second Question

Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.

12 A re 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.

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 Y ou 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?

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 W hy do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?

and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

15 T hey 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.

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 T herefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.

Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.

17 S hall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?

Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?