Habakkuk 1

1The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

2O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

3Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

4Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.footnote a

5Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

6For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.footnote b

7They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.footnote c

8Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.footnote d

9They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.footnote e

10And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

11Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

12Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.footnote ffootnote g

13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?footnote h

14And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?footnote i

15They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.footnote j

16Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.footnote k

17Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Habakkuk’s First Complaint

1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:

2How long, O LORD, must I call for helpbut You do not hear,or cry out to You, “Violence!”but You do not save? 3Why do You make me see iniquity?Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?Destruction and violence are before me.Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. 4Therefore the law is paralyzed,and justice never goes forth.For the wicked hem in the righteous,so that justice is perverted.

The LORD’s Answer

5“Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded!footnote aFor I am doing a work in your daysthat you would never believeeven if someone told you.footnote b 6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeansfootnote c—that ruthless and impetuous nationwhich marches through the breadth of the earthto seize dwellings not their own. 7They are dreaded and feared;from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. 8Their horses are swifter than leopards,fiercer than wolves of the night.Their horsemen charge ahead,and their cavalry comes from afar.They fly like a vulture,swooping down to devour. 9All of them come bent on violence;their hordes advance like the east wind;they gather prisoners like sand. 10They scoff at kingsand make rulers an object of scorn.They laugh at every fortressand build up siege ramps to seize it. 11Then they sweep by like the windand pass through.They are guilty;their own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12Are You not from everlasting,O LORD, my God, my Holy One?We will not die.O LORD, You have appointed themto execute judgment;O Rock, You have established themfor correction. 13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil,and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.So why do You tolerate the faithless?Why are You silentwhile the wicked swallow upthose more righteous than themselves? 14You have made men like the fish of the sea,like creeping things that have no ruler. 15The foe pulls all of them upfootnote dwith a hook;he catches them in his dragnet,and gathers them in his fishing net;so he rejoices gladly. 16Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnetand burns incense to his fishing net,for by these things his portion is sumptuousand his food is rich. 17Will he, therefore, empty his netand continue to slay nations without mercy?