Habakkuk 2:4-9

Good News Translation

^4 (A)And this is the message: ‘Those who are evil will not survive,^[a] but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.’”

Doom on the Unrighteous

⁵ Wealth is deceitful. Greedy people are proud and restless—like death itself they are never satisfied. That is why they conquer nation after nation for themselves. ⁶ The conquered people will taunt their conquerors and show their scorn for them. They will say, “You take what isn't yours, but you are doomed! How long will you go on getting rich by forcing your debtors to pay up?”

⁷ But before you know it, you that have conquered others will be in debt yourselves and be forced to pay interest. Enemies will come and make you tremble. They will plunder you! ⁸ You have plundered the people of many nations, but now those who have survived will plunder you because of the murders you have committed and because of your violence against the people of the world and its cities.^[b]

⁹ You are doomed! You have made your family rich with what you took by violence, and have tried to make your own home safe from harm and danger!