Habakkuk 2:5-20
World English Bible
5 Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous: an arrogant man who doesn’t stay at home, who enlarges his desire as Sheol;[a] he is like death, and can’t be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations, and heaps to himself all peoples. 6 Won’t all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?’ 7 Won’t your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim? 8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it. 9 Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil! 10 You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul. 11 For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it. 12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity! 13 Behold, isn’t it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.
15 “Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies! 16 You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh’s right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. 17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.
18 “What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols? 19 Woe to him who says to the wood, ‘Awake!’ or to the mute stone, ‘Arise!’ Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all within it. 20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2:5 Sheol is the place of the dead.
Habakkuk 2:5-20
Christian Standard Bible
5 Moreover, wine[a] betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.[b]
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.(A)
He gathers all the nations to himself;(B)
he collects all the peoples for himself.
The Five Woe Oracles
6 Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,(C)
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say,
“Woe to him who amasses what is not his—
how much longer?(D)—
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.”(E)
7 Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,
and those who disturb you wake up?
Then you will become spoil for them.(F)
8 Since you have plundered many nations,(G)
all the peoples who remain will plunder you(H)—
because of human bloodshed
and violence(I) against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.(J)
9 Woe to him who dishonestly makes
wealth for his house[c](K)
to place his nest on high,
to escape the grasp of disaster!(L)
10 You have planned shame for your house
by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
11 For the stones will cry out(M) from the wall,
and the rafters will answer them
from the woodwork.
12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and founds a town with injustice!(N)
13 Is it not from the Lord of Armies
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?(O)
14 For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory,
as the water covers the sea.(P)
15 Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink,
pouring out your wrath[d]
and even making them drunk,
in order to look at their nakedness!
16 You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory.
You also—drink,
and expose your uncircumcision![e]
The cup in the Lord’s right hand
will come around to you,
and utter disgrace will cover your glory.(Q)
17 For your violence against Lebanon
will overwhelm you;
the destruction of animals will terrify you[f]
because of your human bloodshed and violence
against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
18 What use is a carved idol
after its craftsman carves it?
It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies.
For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it
and makes worthless idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up!
or to mute stone: Come alive!
Can it teach?
Look! It may be plated with gold and silver,
yet there is no breath(R) in it at all.
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