Habakkuk

Habakkuk, chapter 1, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 1 New English Translation

Habakkuk Complains to the LORD

   1 The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:
   2 How long, LORD, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, "Violence!" But you do not intervene!
   3 Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.
   4 For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.

The LORD Reveals Some Startling News

   5 "Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.
   6 Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
   7 They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right.
   8 Their horses are faster than leopards and more alert than wolves in the desert. Their horses gallop, their horses come a great distance; like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.
   9 All of them intend to do violence; every face is determined. They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.
   10 They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps and capture them.
   11 They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty."

Habakkuk Voices Some Concerns

   12 LORD, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. LORD, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.
   13 You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
   14 You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler.
   15 The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy.
   16 Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.
   17 Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none?

King James Version

   1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
   2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
   3 Why 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.
   4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
   5 ¶ Behold 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.
   6 For, 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 their's.
   7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
   8 Their 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.
   9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
   10 And 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.
   11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
   12 ¶ Art 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.
   13 Thou 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?
   14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
   15 They 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.
   16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
   17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?