1
The burden[H4853] which Habakkuk[H2265] the prophet[H5030] did see[H2372].
2
O LORD[H3068], how long shall I cry[H7768], and thou wilt not hear[H8085]! even cry[H7768]out[H2199] unto thee of violence[H2555], and thou wilt not save[H3467]!
3
Why dost thou shew[H7200] me iniquity[H205], and cause me to behold[H5027]grievance?[H5999] for spoiling[H7701] and violence[H2555] are before me: and there are that raise up[H5375]strife[H7379] and contention[H4066].
4
Therefore the law[H8451] is slacked[H6313], and judgment[H4941] doth never[H5331] go forth[H3318]: for the wicked[H7563] doth compass[H3803] about the righteous[H6662]; therefore wrong[H6127]judgment[H4941]proceedeth[H3318].
5Behold[H7200] ye among the heathen[H1471], and regard[H5027], and wonder[H8539]marvellously[H8539]: for I will work[H6466] a work[H6467] in your days[H3117], which ye will not believe[H539], though it be told[H5608] you.
6
For, lo, I raise up[H6965] the Chaldeans[H3778], that bitter[H4751] and hasty[H4116]nation[H1471], which shall march[H1980] through the breadth[H4800] of the land[H776], to possess[H3423] the dwellingplaces[H4908] that are not theirs.
7
They are terrible[H366] and dreadful[H3372]: their judgment[H4941] and their dignity[H7613] shall proceed[H3318] of themselves.
8
Their horses[H5483] also are swifter[H7043] than the leopards[H5246], and are more fierce[H2300] than the evening[H6153]wolves[H2061]: and their horsemen[H6571] shall spread[H6335] themselves, and their horsemen[H6571] shall come[H935] from far[H7350]; they shall fly[H5774] as the eagle[H5404] that hasteth[H2363] to eat[H398].
9
They shall come[H935] all for violence[H2555]: their faces[H6440] shall sup up[H4041] as the east wind[H6921], and they shall gather[H622] the captivity[H7628] as the sand[H2344].
10
And they shall scoff[H7046] at the kings[H4428], and the princes[H7336] shall be a scorn[H4890] unto them: they shall deride[H7832] every strong hold[H4013]; for they shall heap[H6651]dust[H6083], and take[H3920] it.
11
Then shall his mind[H7307]change[H2498], and he shall pass over[H5674], and offend[H816], imputing this[H2098] his power[H3581] unto his god[H433].
12
Art thou not from everlasting[H6924], O LORD[H3068] my God[H430], mine Holy One?[H6918] we shall not die[H4191]. O LORD[H3068], thou hast ordained[H7760] them for judgment[H4941]; and, O mighty God[H6697], thou hast established[H3245] them for correction[H3198].
13
Thou art of purer[H2889]eyes[H5869] than to behold[H7200]evil[H7451], and canst[H3201] not look[H5027] on iniquity[H5999]: wherefore lookest[H5027] thou upon them that deal treacherously[H898], and holdest thy tongue[H2790] when the wicked[H7563]devoureth[H1104] the man that is more righteous[H6662] than he?
14
And makest[H6213]men[H120] as the fishes[H1709] of the sea[H3220], as the creeping things[H7431], that have no ruler[H4910] over them?
15
They take up[H5927] all of them with the angle[H2443], they catch[H1641] them in their net[H2764], and gather[H622] them in their drag[H4365]: therefore they rejoice[H8055] and are glad[H1523].
16
Therefore they sacrifice[H2076] unto their net[H2764], and burn incense[H6999] unto their drag[H4365]; because by them[H1992] their portion[H2506] is fat[H8082], and their meat[H3978]plenteous[H1277].
17
Shall they therefore empty[H7324] their net[H2764], and not spare[H2550]continually[H8548] to slay[H2026] the nations?[H1471]