Dual Panel1The following is the message <04853> which <0834> God revealed <02372> to Habakkuk <02265> the prophet <05030>:
2How <0575> long <05704>, Lord <03068>, must I cry for help <07768>? But you do not <03808> listen <08085>! I call out <02199> to <0413> you, “Violence <02555>!” But you do not <03808> intervene <03467>!
3Why <04100> do you force me to witness <07200> injustice <0205>? Why do you put up <05027> with wrongdoing <05999>? Destruction <07701> and violence <02555> confront <05048> me; conflict <07379> is present <01961> and one must endure <05375> strife <04066>.
4For <05921> this reason <03651> the law <08451> lacks power <06313>, and justice <04941> is never <05331> <03808> carried out <03318>. Indeed <03588>, the wicked <07563> intimidate <03803> the innocent <06662>. For <05921> this reason <03651> justice <04941> is perverted <06127> <03318>.
5“Look <07200> at the nations <01471> and pay attention <05027>! You will be shocked <08539> and amazed <08539>! For <03588> I will do <06466> something <06467> in your lifetime <03117> that you will not <03808> believe <0539> even though <03588> you are forewarned <05608>.
6Look <02005>, I am about to empower <06965> the Babylonians <03778>, that ruthless <04751> and greedy <04116> nation <01471>. They sweep across <01980> the surface <04800> of the earth <0776>, seizing <03423> dwelling places <04908> that do not <03808> belong to them.
7They are frightening <0366> and terrifying <03372>; they <01931> decide <03318> for themselves what is right <07613> <04941>.
8Their horses <05483> are faster <07043> than leopards <05246> and more alert <02300> than wolves <02061> in the desert <06153>. Their horses <06571> gallop <06335>, their horses <06571> come <0935> a great distance <07350>; like a vulture <05404> they swoop down <05774> quickly <02363> to devour <0398> their prey.
9All <03605> of them intend to do <0935> violence <02555>; every face <06440> is determined <06921>. They take <0622> prisoners <07628> as easily as one scoops up <04041> sand <02344>.
10They <01931> mock <07046> kings <04428> and laugh <04890> at rulers <07336>. They <01931> laugh <07832> at every <03605> fortified <04013> city; they build <06651> siege ramps <06083> and capture <03920> them.
11They sweep <02498> by like the wind <07307> and pass on <05674>. But the one who <02098> considers himself a god <0430> will be held guilty <0816>.”
12Lord <03069>, you <0859> have been active from ancient times <06924>; my sovereign <06918> God <0430>, you are immortal <04191> <03808>. Lord <03069>, you have made them your instrument of judgment <04941>. Protector <06697>, you have appointed <07760> them as your instrument <03245> of punishment <03198>.
13You are too just <05869> <02890> to tolerate <07200> evil <07451>; you are unable <03201> <03808> to <0413> condone <05027> wrongdoing <05999>. So why <04100> do you put up <05027> with such treacherous people <0898>? Why do you say nothing <02790> when the wicked <07563> devour <01104> those more righteous <06662> than <04480> they are?
14You made <06213> people <0120> like fish <01709> in the sea <03220>, like animals in the sea <07431> that have no <03808> ruler <04910>.
15The Babylonian tyrant pulls <05927> them all <03605> up <05927> with a fishhook <02443>; he hauls <01641> them in <01641> with his throw net <02764>. When he catches <0622> them in <05921> his dragnet <04365>, he is very happy <01523>.
16Because of <03651> his success he offers sacrifices <02076> to his throw net <02764> and burns incense <06999> to his dragnet <04365>; for because <03588> of them <01992> he has plenty <08082> of food <02506>, and more than enough <01277> to eat <03978>.
17Will he then continue <03651> to fill and empty <07324> his throw net <02764>? Will he always <08548> destroy <02026> nations <01471> and spare <02550> none <03808>?