1
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet beheld.
2
O Jehovah, how long shall I cry out, and Thou wilt not hear! I cry to Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!
3
Why dost Thou cause me to see iniquity, and cause me to look on mischief? And devastation and violence are in front of me; and there is strife, and contention is lifted up.
4
Therefore the law has failed, and perpetually judgment does not go out; for the wicked closes around the just; therefore crooked judgment goes out.
5
See among the nations, and look, and amaze yourselves and be amazed; for a work is working in your days that you will not believe, though it be recounted.
6
For, behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, the bitter and the hasty nation; and he shall walk in the broad places of the land, to possess habitations that are not his.
7
He is terrifying and fearsome; from himself his judgment and his eminence shall go out;
8
and his horses are swifter than the leopards, and sharper than the evening wolves; and his horsemen shall spread out, and his horsemen shall come from far off; they shall fly as the eagle that hurries to eat.
9
All shall come for violence; the panting desire of their faces is toward the east, and he shall gather the captivity as the sand.
10
And he shall scoff at the kings, and the rulers shall be as a laugh to him; he shall laugh at every fortress; and he shall pile up dust, and capture it.
11
Then shall his spirit change, and he shall pass by, and be guilty, imputing this his power to his god.
12
Art Thou not from ancient time, Jehovah my God, my Holy One? Let us not die. Jehovah, Thou hast set him for judgment, and, O Rock, Thou hast founded him to be reproved.
13
Thine eyes are too clean to see evil, and Thou art not able to look at mischief. Why lookest Thou upon those who act treacherously, and art silent when the wicked swallows up someone more just than he?
14
And why makest Thou man as the fish of the sea, as the creeping thing that has not a ruler?
15
He brings up all with the hook; he collects him in his net, and gathers him in his trawl; therefore he is glad and rejoices.
16
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his trawl; for among them his part is with oil, and his food is nourishing.
17
Shall he thus empty his net, and not spare continually to kill the nations?
