Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

I will climb my watchtower; I will take my place on the city wall. I will keep watch and see what he will say to me, how he will answer my grievances.

2 The LORD answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.

Then the Lord told me, Write down the vision, inscribe it on tablets, so it can be easily read.

3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come, and it won't delay.

For the vision is for a future time, it is about the end and it does not lie. If it seems slow in being fulfilled, wait for it, for it will definitely come—it will not be delayed!

4 Look, if he holds back, my soul has no pleasure in him, but the righteous will live by faith.

Look at those who are proud! They do not live right. But those who live right do so through their trust in God.

5 And moreover, wealth is treacherous; a proud man will not endure. He enlarges his desire as Sheol, and he is like death, and can't be satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself, and collects to himself all peoples. (Sheol h7585)

In addition wealth provides no security. Those who are arrogant never have any peace; their greedy mouths are as wide open as the grave, and like death they are never satisfied. They gather nations like possessions, swallowing up many peoples. (Sheol h7585)

6 Won't all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion. How long?'

Won't all these peoples taunt them? They will ridicule them, saying, “What disaster is coming to you who pile up things that don't belong to you! You make yourselves rich by forcing debtors to pay! How long can you go on doing this?”

7 Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim?

Won't your debtors suddenly act? Won't they wake up to the situation and make you tremble? You will be plunder for them!

8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.

Because you have plundered many nations, those who are left will plunder you—for the human blood you have shed and the destruction you brought on lands and cities, and those who lived there.

9 Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil.

What disaster is coming to you who build houses through dishonest gain! You think you can place your “nest” so high it will be safe from disaster.

10 You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul.

Your evil schemes have brought shame upon your families, by destroying many nations you have forfeited your own lives.

11 For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.

Even the stones in the wall cry out in condemnation, and the wooden rafters join in too.

12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity.

What disaster is coming to you who build cities with bloodshed, who found cities built on wickedness!

13 Look, isn't it of the LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?

Hasn't the Lord Almighty decided that all such nations work for will be destroyed by fire, that they wear themselves out for nothing?

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord's glory as the waters fill the sea.

15 "Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies.

What disaster is coming to you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup of anger on them and make them drink so you may see them naked.

16 You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed. The cup of the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

In turn you will be filled with shame instead of glory. Drink yourself and expose your nakedness! The cup the Lord holds in his right hand will be passed round to you and your glory will turn to shame.

17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.

As you destroyed the forests of Lebanon you will also be destroyed; you hunted the animals there, and now they will hunt you. For you shed human blood and you destroyed lands and cities, along with those who lived there.

18 "What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?

What use is a wooden idol carved by human hands, or a metal image that teaches lies? What is the point of their makers trusting in their own handiwork, creating idols that can't speak?

19 Woe to him who says to the wood, 'Awake.' or to the mute stone, 'Arise.' Shall this teach? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in its midst.

What disaster is coming to you who say to something made of wood, “Wake up!” or to lifeless stone, “Get up!” Can it teach you anything? Look at it! It's covered with gold and silver, but there is no life inside it.

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him."

But the Lord is in his holy Temple; let all the earth be silent in his presence.