Habakkuk 2

1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.footnote afootnote bfootnote c

2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:footnote d

6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!footnote e

7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.footnote f

9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!footnote gfootnote h

10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.footnote ifootnote j

12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!footnote k

13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?footnote l

14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.footnote m

15Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.footnote n

17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

18What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?footnote o

19Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

20But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.footnote p

The LORD Answers Again

1I will stand at my guard postand station myself on the ramparts.I will watch to see what He will say to me,and how I should answer when corrected. 2Then the LORD answered me:“Write down this visionand clearly inscribe it on tablets,so that a herald may run with it. 3For the vision awaits an appointed time;it testifies of the end and does not lie.Though it lingers, wait for it,since it will surely come and will not delay.footnote a 4Look at the proud one; his soul is not uprightfootnote b—but the righteous will live by faithfootnote c— 5and wealthfootnote dindeed betrays him.He is an arrogant man never at rest.He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,and like Death, he is never satisfied.He gathers all the nations to himselfand collects all the peoples as his own.

Woe to the Chaldeans

6Will not all of these take up a taunt against him,speaking with mockery and derision:‘Woe to him who amasses what is not hisand makes himself rich with many loans!How long will this go on?’ 7Will not your creditors suddenly ariseand those who disturb you awaken?Then you will become their prey. 8Because you have plundered many nations,the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against manand your violence against the land, the city,and all their dwellers.

9Woe to him who builds his houseby unjust gain,to place his nest on highand escape the hand of disaster! 10You have plotted shame for your houseby cutting off many peoplesand forfeiting your life.footnote e 11For the stones will cry out from the wall,and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.

12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshedand establishes a town by iniquity! 13Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hoststhat the labor of the people only feeds the fire,and the nations weary themselves in vain? 14For the earth will be filledwith the knowledge of the glory of the LORDas the waters cover the sea.

15Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk,in order to gaze at their nakedness! 16You will be filled with shame instead of glory.You too must drinkand expose your uncircumcision!footnote fThe cup in the LORD’s right handwill come around to you,and utter disgrace will cover your glory. 17For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you,and the destruction of animals will terrify you,because of your bloodshed against menand your violence against the land, the city,and all their dwellers.

18What use is an idol,that a craftsman should carve it—or an image,a teacher of lies?For its maker trusts in his own creation;he makes idols that cannot speak. 19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’Can it give guidance?Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,yet there is no breath in it at all.”

20But the LORD is in His holy temple;let all the earth be silent before Him.