Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk Complains to the Lord
1:1 The following is the message1 which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:2
1:2 How long,
But you do not listen!
I call out to you, “Violence!”
But you do not intervene!3
1:3 Why do you force me to witness injustice?4
Why do you put up with wrongdoing?5
Destruction and violence confront6 me;
conflict is present and one must endure strife.7
1:4 For this reason the law lacks power,8
and justice is never carried out.9
Indeed,10 the wicked intimidate11 the innocent.12
For this reason justice is perverted.13
The Lord Reveals Some Startling News
1:5 “Look at the nations and pay attention!14
You will be shocked and amazed!15
For I will do something in your lifetime16
that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.17
1:6 Look, I am about to empower18 the Babylonians,
that ruthless19 and greedy20 nation.
They sweep across the surface21 of the earth,
seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
1:7 They are frightening and terrifying;
they decide for themselves what is right.22
1:8 Their horses are faster than leopards
and more alert23 than wolves in the desert.24
their horses come a great distance;
like a vulture27 they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.28
1:9 All of them intend29 to do violence;
every face is determined.30
They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.31
and laugh at rulers.
They laugh at every fortified city;
they build siege ramps32 and capture them.
1:11 They sweep by like the wind and pass on.33
But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.”34
Habakkuk Voices Some Concerns
1:12
my sovereign God,36 you are immortal.37
Protector,40 you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.41
1:13 You are too just42 to tolerate43 evil;
you are unable to condone44 wrongdoing.
So why do you put up with such treacherous people?45
Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour46 those more righteous than they are?47
1:14 You made people like fish in the sea,
like animals in the sea48 that have no ruler.
1:15 The Babylonian tyrant49 pulls them all up with a fishhook;
he hauls them in with his throw net.50
When he catches51 them in his dragnet,
he is very happy.52
1:16 Because of his success53 he offers sacrifices to his throw net
and burns incense to his dragnet;54
for because of them he has plenty of food,55
and more than enough to eat.56
1:17 Will he then57 continue to fill and empty his throw net?58