Beginning
Habakkuk
1 1 A complaint against the wicked that persecute the just.
1 The burden, which Habakkuk the Prophet did see.
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee [a]for violence, and thou wilt not help!
3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold sorrow? for spoiling, and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4 Therefore the Law is dissolved, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth [b]compass about the righteous: therefore [c]wrong judgment proceedeth.
5 Behold among the heathen, and regard, and wonder, and marvel: for I will work a work in your days: [d]ye will not believe it, though it be told you.
6 For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, which shall go upon the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and fearful: [e]their judgment, and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the wolves in the (A)evening: and their horsemen are many: and their horsemen shall come from far: they shall fly as the eagle hasting to meat.
9 They come all to spoil: for their faces shall be an [f]East wind, and they shall gather the captivity [g]as the sand.
10 And they shall mock the Kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every stronghold: for they shall gather [h]dust, and take it.
11 Then shall they [i]take a courage, and transgress and do wickedly, imputing this their power unto their god.
12 Art not thou of old, O Lord my God, mine holy One? we shall not [j]die: O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment, and O God, thou hast established them for correction.
13 Thou art of pure eyes, and canst not see evil: thou canst not behold wickedness: wherefore dost thou look upon the transgressors, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked devoureth the man, that is more righteous than he?
14 And makest men as the [k]fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15 They take up all with the angle: they catch it in their net, and gather it in their yarn, whereof they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their [l]net, and burn incense unto their yarn, because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
17 Shall they therefore stretch out their net, and not spare continually to slay [m]the nations?
2 1 A vision. 5 Against pride, covetousness, drunkenness, and idolatry.
1 I will stand upon my [n]watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look and see what he would say unto me, and what I shall answer to him that rebuketh me.
2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run [o]that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the [p]last it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait: for it shall surely come, and shall not stay.
4 Behold, [q]he that lifteth up himself, his mind is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith,
5 Yea, indeed the proud man is as [r]he that transgresseth by wine: therefore shall he not endure, because he hath enlarged his desire as the hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.
6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Ho, he that increaseth that which is not his? [s]how long? and he that ladeth himself with thick clay?
7 Shall [t]they not rise up suddenly, that shall bite thee? and awake, that shall stir thee? and thou shalt be their prey?
8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee, because of men’s blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city, and unto all that dwell therein.
9 Ho, he that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, to escape from the power of evil.
10 Thou [u]hast consulted shame to thine own house, by destroying many people, and hast sinned against thine own soul.
11 For the [v]stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
12 Woe unto him that buildeth a town with blood, and erecteth a city by iniquity.
13 Behold, is it not of the [w]Lord of hosts, that the people shall labor in the very fire? the people shall even weary themselves for very vanity.
14 For the earth shall [x]be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor [y]drink: thou joinest thine heat, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest see their privities.
16 Thou art filled with shame [z]for glory: drink thou also, and be made naked: the cup of the Lord’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be for thy glory.
17 For the [aa]cruelty of Lebanon shall cover thee: so shall the spoil of the beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city, and unto all that dwell therein.
18 What profiteth the [ab]image? for the maker therefore hath made it an image, and a teacher of lies, though he that made it, trust therein, when he maketh dumb idols.
19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake, and to the dumb stone, Rise up, it shall teach thee: [ac]behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath in it.
20 But the Lord is in his holy Temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
3 2 A prayer for the faithful.
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet for the [ad]ignorances.
2 [ae]O Lord, I have heard thy voice, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy [af]work in the midst of the people, in the midst of the years make it known: in wrath remember mercy.
3 God cometh from [ag]Teman, and the holy One from mount Paran, Selah. His glory covereth the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise,
4 And his brightness was as the light: [ah]he had horns coming out of his hands, and there was the hiding of his power.
5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth before his feet.
6 He stood and measured the earth: he beheld and dissolved the nations, and the everlasting mountains were broken, and the ancient hills did bow: his [ai]ways are everlasting.
7 [aj]For his iniquity I saw the tents of Cushan, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 Was the Lord angry against the [ak]rivers? or was thine anger against the floods? or was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride [al]upon thine horses? thy chariots brought salvation.
9 Thy [am]bow was manifestly revealed, and the [an]oaths of the tribes were a sure word, Selah, thou [ao]didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the stream of the water [ap]passed by: the deep made a noise, and lifted up his hand on high.
11 The [aq]sun and moon stood still in their habitation: [ar]at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the bright shining of thy spears.
12 Thou trodest down the land in anger, and didst thresh the heathen in displeasure.
13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine [as]Anointed: thou hast wounded the head of the house of the wicked, and discoveredst the foundations unto the [at]neck, Selah.
14 Thou didst [au]strike through with his own staves the heads of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15 Thou didst walk in the sea with thine horses upon the heap of great waters.
16 When I [av]heard, my belly trembled: my lips shook at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in [aw]the day of trouble: for when he cometh up [ax]unto the people, he shall destroy them.
17 For the fig tree shall not flourish, neither shall fruit be in the vines: the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat: the sheep shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no bullock in the stalls.
18 But I will rejoice in the Lord: I will joy [ay]in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength: he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. [az]To the chief singer on Neginoth.
Zephaniah
1 4 Threatenings against Judah and Jerusalem, because of their idolatry.
1 The word of the Lord, which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of (A)Josiah, the son of (B)Amon king of Judah.
2 I will surely destroy all things from off the land, saith the Lord.
3 I will destroy man and beast: I will destroy the [a]fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and ruins shall be to the wicked, and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord.
4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the [b]Chemarims with the Priests,
5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops, and them that worship and swear by the Lord, and swear by [c]Milcam.
6 And them that are turned back from the Lord, and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him.
7 Be still at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, and hath sanctified his guests.
8 And it shall be in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will visit the princes and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with [d]strange apparel.
9 In the same day also will I visit all those that [e]dance upon the threshold so proudly, which fill their masters’ houses by cruelty and deceit.
10 And in that day, saith the Lord, there shall be a noise, and cry from the [f]fish gate, and an howling from the second gate, and a great destruction from the hills.
11 Howl ye inhabitants of [g]the low place: for the company of the merchants is destroyed: all they that bear silver, are cut off.
12 And at that time will I search Jerusalem with [h]lights, and visit the men that are frozen [i]in their dregs, and say in their hearts, The Lord will neither do good nor do evil.
13 Therefore their goods shall be spoiled, and their houses waste: (C)they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them, and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
14 The great day of the Lord is near: it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: [j]the strong man shall cry there bitterly.
15 (D)That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heaviness, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of obscurity and darkness, a day of clouds and blackness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the strong cities, and against the high towers.
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord, and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 (E)Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath, but the (F)whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
2 1 He moveth to return to God, 5 prophesying destruction against the Philistines, Moabites and others.
1 Gather [k]yourselves, even gather you, O nation not worthy to be loved,
2 Before the decree come forth, and ye be as chaff that passeth in a day, and before the fierce wrath of the Lord come upon you, and before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you.
3 Seek ye the Lord all the meek of the earth, which [l]have wrought his judgment: seek righteousness, seek lowliness, if so be that ye may be hid in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
4 For [m]Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon desolate: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5 [Woe] unto the inhabitants of the sea [n]coast. the nation of the Cherethims, the word of the Lord is against you: O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee without an inhabitant.
6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds and sheepfolds.
7 And that coast shall be for the [o]remnant of the house of Judah, to feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they judge toward night: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the rebukes of the children of Ammon, whereby they upbraided my people, and [p]magnified themselves against their borders.
9 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation, the residue of my folk shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached, and magnified themselves against the Lord of host’s people.
11 The Lord will be terrible unto them: [q]for he will consume all the gods of the earth, and every man shall worship him from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12 Ye Morians also shall be slain by my sword with them.
13 And he will stretch out his hand against the North, and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh desolate, and waste like a wilderness.
14 And flocks shall lie in the midst of her, and all the beasts of the nations, and the [r]pelican and the [s]owl shall abide in the upper posts of it: the voice of birds shall sing in the windows, and desolations shall be upon the posts: for the cedars are uncovered.
15 This is the [t]rejoicing city that dwelt careless, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she made waste, and the lodging of the beasts! everyone that passeth by her shall hiss and wag his hand.
3 4 Against the governors of Jerusalem. 8 Of the calling of all the Gentiles. 13 A comfort to the residue of Israel.
1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the robbing [u]city.
2 She heard not the voice: she received not correction: she trusted not in the Lord: she drew not near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are as roaring (G)lions: her judges are as (H)wolves in the evening, which [v]leave not the bones till the morrow.
4 Her prophets are light, and wicked persons: her priests have polluted the Sanctuary: they have wrested the Law.
5 The [w]just Lord is in the midst thereof: he will do none iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not: but the wicked will not learn to be ashamed.
6 I have [x]cut off the nations: their towers are desolate: I have made their streets waste, that none shall pass by, their cities are destroyed without man, and without inhabitant.
7 I said, surely thou wilt fear me: thou wilt receive instruction: so their dwelling should not be destroyed howsoever I visited them, but [y]they rose early, and corrupted all their works.
8 Therefore [z]wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for I am determined to gather the nations, and that I will assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce wrath: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 Surely [aa]then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him [ab]with one consent.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, the [ac]daughter of my dispersed, praying unto me, shall bring me an offering.
11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for [ad]all thy works, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then will I take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice of thy pride, and thou shalt no more be proud of mine holy mountain.
12 Then will I leave in the midst of thee an humble and poor people: and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel shall do none iniquity, nor speak lies: neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall be fed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14 Rejoice, O daughter Zion: be ye joyful, O Israel: be glad and rejoice with all thine heart, O daughter Jerusalem.
15 The Lord hath taken away thy [ae]judgments: he hath cast out thine [af]enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord is in the midst of [ag]thee: thou shalt see no more evil.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not, O Zion, let not thine hands be faint.
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy: he will quiet himself in [ah]his love: he will rejoice over thee with joy.
18 After a certain time will I gather the afflicted that were of thee, and them that bare the reproach for [ai]it.
19 Behold, at that time I will bruise all that afflict thee, and I will [aj]save her that halteth, and gather her that was cast out, and I will get them praise and fame in all the [ak]lands of their shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, and then will I gather you: for I will give you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.