Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

The Voice

¹² Have You not existed from ancient times, O Eternal One, my holy God?
    Surely You do not plan for us to die.
You, O Eternal One, have made Babylonia Your tool for judgment.
    You, O Rock, have established that king as Your instrument of correction.
¹³ Your eyes are too pure to even look at evil.
    You cannot turn Your face toward injustice.
So why do You stand by and watch those who act treacherously?
    Why do You say and do nothing
When the wicked swallows up one who is more in the right than he is?
¹⁴ You made humans like fish in the sea,
    like creatures under no rule or authority.

¹⁵ But the Babylonian yanks up his enemies with a hook,
    dragging them away with his net.
Gathering them up like fish in a net,
    the king shrieks and shouts for joy at his catch.
¹⁶ So he offers a sacrifice to his net that has made him rich;
    the smoke of his sacrifices rises for his fishing net that has brought him success;
Because of it, his table is full and his belly is fat.
¹⁷ Will he empty and fill his net without end?
    Will he continue to murder the people of the world without pity?

2 I will take my place at the watchtower.
    I will stand at my post and watch.
I will watch and see what He says to me.
    I need to think about how I should respond to Him
When He gets back to me with His answer.