The burden [04853] which Habakkuk [02265] the prophet [05030] did see [02372].
O Lord [03068], how long shall I cry [07768], and thou wilt not hear [08085]! even cry out [02199] unto thee of violence [02555], and thou wilt not save [03467]!
Why dost thou shew [07200] me iniquity [0205], and cause me to behold [05027] grievance [05999]? for spoiling [07701] and violence [02555] are before me: and there are that raise up [05375] strife [07379] and contention [04066].
Therefore the law [08451] is slacked [06313], and judgment [04941] doth never [05331] go forth [03318]: for the wicked [07563] doth compass [03803] about the righteous [06662]; therefore wrong [06127] judgment [04941] proceedeth [03318].wrong: or, wrested
Behold [07200] ye among the heathen [01471], and regard [05027], and wonder [08539] marvellously [08539]: for I will work [06466] a work [06467] in your days [03117], which ye will not believe [0539], though it be told [05608] you.
For, lo, I raise up [06965] the Chaldeans [03778], that bitter [04751] and hasty [04116] nation [01471], which shall march [01980] through the breadth [04800] of the land [0776], to possess [03423] the dwellingplaces [04908] that are not theirs.breadth: Heb. breadths
They are terrible [0366] and dreadful [03372]: their judgment [04941] and their dignity [07613] shall proceed [03318] of themselves.their judgment…: or, from them shall proceed the judgment of these, and the captivity of these
Their horses [05483] also are swifter [07043] than the leopards [05246], and are more fierce [02300] than the evening [06153] wolves [02061]: and their horsemen [06571] shall spread [06335] themselves, and their horsemen [06571] shall come [0935] from far [07350]; they shall fly [05774] as the eagle [05404] that hasteth [02363] to eat [0398].fierce: Heb. sharp
They shall come [0935] all for violence [02555]: their faces [06440] shall sup up [04041] as the east wind [06921], and they shall gather [0622] the captivity [07628] as the sand [02344].their…: or, the supping up of their faces, etc: or, their faces shall look (Heb. the opposition of their faces) toward the east
And they shall scoff [07046] at the kings [04428], and the princes [07336] shall be a scorn [04890] unto them: they shall deride [07832] every strong hold [04013]; for they shall heap [06651] dust [06083], and take [03920] it.
Then shall his mind [07307] change [02498], and he shall pass over [05674], and offend [0816], imputing this [02098] his power [03581] unto his god [0433].
Art thou not from everlasting [06924], O Lord [03068] my God [0430], mine Holy One [06918]? we shall not die [04191]. O Lord [03068], thou hast ordained [07760] them for judgment [04941]; and, O mighty God [06697], thou hast established [03245] them for correction [03198].mighty…: Heb. rockestablished: Heb. founded
Thou art of purer [02889] eyes [05869] than to behold [07200] evil [07451], and canst [03201] not look [05027] on iniquity [05999]: wherefore lookest [05027] thou upon them that deal treacherously [0898], and holdest thy tongue [02790] when the wicked [07563] devoureth [01104] the man that is more righteous [06662] than he?iniquity: or, grievance
And makest [06213] men [0120] as the fishes [01709] of the sea [03220], as the creeping things [07431], that have no ruler [04910] over them?creeping: or, moving
They take up [05927] all of them with the angle [02443], they catch [01641] them in their net [02764], and gather [0622] them in their drag [04365]: therefore they rejoice [08055] and are glad [01523].drag: or, flue net
Therefore they sacrifice [02076] unto their net [02764], and burn incense [06999] unto their drag [04365]; because by them [01992] their portion [02506] is fat [08082], and their meat [03978] plenteous [01277].plenteous: or, dainty: Heb. fat
Shall they therefore empty [07324] their net [02764], and not spare [02550] continually [08548] to slay [02026] the nations [01471]?