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Habakkuk 1:15-17
New English Translation
Habakkuk 1:15-17
New English Translation
15 The Babylonian tyrant[a] pulls them all up with a fishhook;
he hauls them in with his throw net.[b]
When he catches[c] them in his dragnet,
he is very happy.[d]
16 Because of his success[e] he offers sacrifices to his throw net
and burns incense to his dragnet;[f]
for because of them he has plenty of food,[g]
and more than enough to eat.[h]
17 Will he then[i] continue to fill and empty his throw net?[j]
Will he always[k] destroy[l] nations and spare none?[m]
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:15 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Babylonian tyrant) has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NASB “The Chaldeans”; NIV “The wicked foe”; NRSV “The enemy”). Babylonian imperialism is here compared to a professional fisherman who repeatedly brings in his catch and has plenty to eat.
- Habakkuk 1:15 tn Apparently two different types of fishing nets are referred to here. The חֵרֶם (kherem, “throw net”) was used by fishermen standing on the shore (see Ezek 47:10), while the מִכְמֶרֶת (mikhmeret, “dragnet”) was used by men in a boat. See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 165.
- Habakkuk 1:15 tn Heb “and he gathers.”
- Habakkuk 1:15 tn Heb “Therefore he is happy and rejoices.” Here two synonyms are joined for emphasis.
- Habakkuk 1:16 tn Heb “therefore.”
- Habakkuk 1:16 sn The fishing implements (throw net and dragnet) represent Babylonian military might. The prophet depicts the Babylonians as arrogantly worshiping their own power (sacrifices…burns incense, see also v. 11b).
- Habakkuk 1:16 tn Heb “for by them his portion is full [or, “fat”].”
- Habakkuk 1:16 tn Heb “and his food is plentiful [or, “fat”].”
- Habakkuk 1:17 tn Or “therefore.”
- Habakkuk 1:17 tn Heb “Will he then empty his throw net?” The words “continue to fill and” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
- Habakkuk 1:17 tn Or “continually.”
- Habakkuk 1:17 tn Heb “kill.”
- Habakkuk 1:17 tn Or “without showing compassion.”
New English Translation (NET)
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