Habakkuk 2:5-20
International Standard Version
5 Moreover, just as wine leads astray the proud and powerful man,
he[a] remains restless;
he[b] has expanded his appetite—
like the afterlife[c] or death itself, he[d] is never satisfied.
He[e] gathers to himself all of the nations,
taking captive all of the people for himself.”
Judgment on the Plunderer of Nations
6 “Will not all of these ridicule him
with mocking scorn? They will say,
‘Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn’t his.
How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?’[f]
7 Won’t your creditors revolt unexpectedly?
Won’t those who make you tremble wake up?
As a result, you’ll become their prey!
8 Because you plundered many nations,
all of their remnants will plunder you.
Human blood has been shed,[g]
and violence has been done to[h] the land,
to the city, and to all who live in it.”
Judgment on Those who Think They are Safe
9 “Woe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit
in order to establish his household,
so he can establish a secure place[i] on the heights
and escape from the power of evil.
10 You have brought shame to yourself[j] by killing many people—
you are forfeiting your own life.
11 Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall
and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.”
Judgment on the Lawless
12 “Woe to the one who founds a city upon bloodshed,
and constructs a city by lawlessness.
13 Is it not because of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
that people grow tired putting out fires,[k]
and nations weary themselves over nothing?
14 Indeed, the earth will be filled
with knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
as water fills[l] the sea.”
Judgment on the Violent
15 “Woe to the one who supplies his neighbor with a drink!
You are forcing your bottle[m] on him,[n]
making him drunk so you can see them naked.
16 You are filled with dishonor instead of glory.
So go ahead,[o] drink and be naked!
The Lord[p] will turn against you,
and utter disgrace will debase your reputation.[q]
17 Indeed, the violence done to Lebanon will overtake you,
and the destruction of the beasts will terrorize you—[r]
because you shed human blood
and did violence to[s] the land, to the city, and to all who live in it.”
Judgment on the Idol Maker
18 “Where is the benefit in owning[t] a carved image,
that motivates its maker to carve[u] it?
It is only a cast image—
a teacher that lies—
because the engraver entrusts himself to his carving,
crafting speechless idols.
19 “Woe to the one who says to a tree, ‘Wake up!’
or ‘Arise!’ to a speechless stone.
Idols[v] like this can’t teach, can they?
Look, even though it is overlaid with gold and silver,
there’s no breath in it at all.”
The Lord’s Final Counsel to Habakkuk
20 “The Lord is in his holy Temple.
All the earth—be quiet in his presence.”
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 2:5 I.e. Babylonian invaders personified in their king
- Habakkuk 2:5 I.e. Babylonian invaders personified in their king
- Habakkuk 2:5 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the realm of the dead
- Habakkuk 2:5 I.e. Babylonian invaders personified in their king
- Habakkuk 2:5 I.e. Babylonian invaders personified in their king
- Habakkuk 2:6 Lit. by loans
- Habakkuk 2:8 The Heb. lacks has been shed
- Habakkuk 2:8 Lit. violence of
- Habakkuk 2:9 Lit. establish his nest
- Habakkuk 2:10 Lit. to your house
- Habakkuk 2:13 Lit. tired for the sufficiency of fire
- Habakkuk 2:14 Lit. covers
- Habakkuk 2:15 Lit. wine skin
- Habakkuk 2:15 The Heb. lacks on him
- Habakkuk 2:16 The Heb. lacks go ahead
- Habakkuk 2:16 Lit. The power of the Lord’s right hand
- Habakkuk 2:16 Lit. will come upon your glory
- Habakkuk 2:17 The Heb. lacks you
- Habakkuk 2:17 Lit. violence of
- Habakkuk 2:18 The Heb. lacks owning
- Habakkuk 2:18 Lit. because its maker carved
- Habakkuk 2:19 Lit. Things
Habakkuk 2:5-20
Lexham English Bible
5 How much less[a] the defiant;[b]
the arrogant, treacherous man?
He who broadens his throat like Sheol,
and who, like death, is not satisfied,
and who gathers to himself all the nations,
and harvested for himself all the peoples,
will not succeed.
6 Shall not all of these take up a taunt against him,
with ridicule and riddles against him, saying,
‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his’?
For how long?
And, ‘Woe to him who makes himself heavy with pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors suddenly rise up
and awaken those who make you tremble?
Then you shall be as plunder for them.
8 Because you plundered many nations,
all the remaining nations will plunder you
on account of the blood of humanity
and violence against the land,
and against cities and all who live in them.
9 Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house,
to set his nest on high,
to be saved from the hand of misfortune!
10 You have plotted shame for your house,
cutting off many peoples
and sinning against your life.
11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,
and the plaster from the wood will answer it.
12 Woe to him who builds a city by bloodguilt,
and who founds a city by wickedness!
13 Look! Is it not from Yahweh of hosts
that people labor for mere fire,
and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?
14 For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh,
like the waters covering the sea.
15 Woe to him who gives a drink to his neighbors,
pouring out your wrath and also making them drunk
in order to see their nakedness!
16 You will be sated with shame rather than glory.
Drink also yourself, and expose yourself!
The cup of the right hand of Yahweh
will come around upon you
and disgrace upon your glory.
17 For the violence of Lebanon will cover you,
and the destruction of wild animals will shatter them
on account of the blood of humanity,
and the violence against the land,
against a city and all the inhabitants in it.
18 What value is an idol
when its carver has fashioned it,
a molten idol, a teacher of lies?
For he who fashioned his creation trusts in it,
though making mute idols!
19 Woe to him who says to the wood, ‘Wake up!’
And to a lifeless stone, ‘Arise!’
Can he teach?
Look, it is covered with gold and silver,
and there is no breath within it.
20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple.
Let all the earth be silent before him.”
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 2:5 Literally “And moreover because”
- Habakkuk 2:5 “Defiant” follows the Dead Sea Scrolls (1QpHab)
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