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

The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will 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 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 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 never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds. The Lord ’s Reply

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

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

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

“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 his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.” The Prophet’s Second Question

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

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 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?

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 W hy do You make men like fish of the sea, Like 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 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.

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

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

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