Hab 1
1
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2
O YHWH, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you of violence,
and you will not save.
3
Why do you show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence
are before me; and there is strife, and contention rises up.
4
Therefore the law is slacked, and justice does never go forth; for the wicked does
compass about the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.
5
Behold you among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working
a work in your days, which you will not believe though it be told you.
6
For, behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through
the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.
7
They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
8
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening
wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they
fly as an eagle that hastens to devour.
9
They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather
captives as the sand.
10
Yea, he scoffs at kings, and princes are a derision to him; he derides every stronghold;
for he heaps up dust, and takes it.
11
Then shall he sweep by [as] a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, [even] he
whose might is his god.
12
Art not you from everlasting, O YHWH my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O YHWH,
you have ordained him for judgment; and you, O Rock, have established him for correction.
13
You that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that can not look on perverseness,
wherefore look you upon them that deal treacherously, and hold your peace when the
wicked swallowes up the man that is more righteous than he;
14
and make men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler
over them?
15
He takes up all of them with the angle, he catches them in his net, and gathers them
in his drag: therefore he rejoices and is glad.
16
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his drag; because by them
his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
17
Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?