Habakkuk 2:2-14

New International Version

The Lord’s Answer

²Then the Lord replied:

“Write^(A) down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald^[a] may run with it.
³For the revelation awaits an appointed time;^(B)
    it speaks of the end^(C)
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait^(D) for it;
    it^[b] will certainly come
    and will not delay.^(E)

⁴“See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person^(F) will live by his faithfulness^[c]^(G)—
⁵indeed, wine^(H) betrays him;
    he is arrogant^(I) and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
    and like death is never satisfied,^(J)
he gathers to himself all the nations
    and takes captive^(K) all the peoples.

⁶“Will not all of them taunt^(L) him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
    and makes himself wealthy by extortion!^(M)
    How long must this go on?’
⁷Will not your creditors suddenly arise?
    Will they not wake up and make you tremble?
    Then you will become their prey.^(N)
⁸Because you have plundered many nations,
    the peoples who are left will plunder you.^(O)
For you have shed human blood;^(P)
    you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.^(Q)

⁹“Woe to him who builds^(R) his house by unjust gain,^(S)
    setting his nest^(T) on high
    to escape the clutches of ruin!
¹⁰You have plotted the ruin^(U) of many peoples,
    shaming^(V) your own house and forfeiting your life.
¹¹The stones^(W) of the wall will cry out,
    and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

¹²“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed^(X)
    and establishes a town by injustice!
¹³Has not the Lord Almighty determined
    that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,^(Y)
    that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?^(Z)
¹⁴For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory^(AA) of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.^(AB)