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The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear? Even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save?

Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For despoiling and violence are before me, and there are those that raise up strife and contention.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth. For the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

“Behold ye among the heathen and regard, and wonder marvelously; for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.

They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity shall proceed from themselves.

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. And their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from afar; they shall fly as the vulture that hasteneth to eat.

They shall come all for violence; their faces shall consume as the east wind, and they shall gather the captives as the sand.

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them. They shall deride every stronghold, for they shall heap up dirt and take it.

11 Then shall his mind change; and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.”

12 Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, Thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction.

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest Thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things that have no ruler over them?

15 They take up all of them with the hook; they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and are glad.

16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag, because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous.

17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

The [a]burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and [b]look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice [c]doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.

Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for [d]I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs. [e]They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen [f]press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour. They come all of them for violence; [g]the set of their faces is [h]forwards; and they gather captives as the sand. 10 [i]Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it. 11 [j]Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall [k]pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.

12 Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction. 13 Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he; 14 and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food [l]plenteous. 17 Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?

Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 1:1 Or, oracle
  2. Habakkuk 1:3 Or, cause me to look
  3. Habakkuk 1:4 Or, goeth not forth unto victory
  4. Habakkuk 1:5 Or, one worketh
  5. Habakkuk 1:7 Hebrew He: and so in verses 8, 9.
  6. Habakkuk 1:8 Or, spread themselves
  7. Habakkuk 1:9 Hebrew the eagerness (or, assembling) of their faces is etc.
  8. Habakkuk 1:9 Or, towards the east
  9. Habakkuk 1:10 Or, And they scoff etc.
  10. Habakkuk 1:11 Or, Then shall the wind sweep by, and he shall pass away
  11. Habakkuk 1:11 Or, transgress
  12. Habakkuk 1:16 Hebrew fat.