Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand upon my watch, and seat myself upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected.

2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.

3 For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it may tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.

4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up, is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright — but the righteous will live by faith —

5 Yes also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire, as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth to him all nations, and collecteth to him all people: (Sheol h7585)

and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own. (Sheol h7585)

6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’

7 Shall they not rise suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall disturb thee, and thou shalt be for booties to them?

Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey.

8 Because thou hast laid waste many nations, all the remnant of the people shall lay thee waste; because of men's blood, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you— because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!

10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned [against] thy soul.

You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your life.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.

12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!

Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!

13 Behold, [is it] not from the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?

14 For the earth shall 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 glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

15 Woe to him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!

16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned to thee, and shameful vomiting [shall be] on thy glory.

You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.

17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

18 What profiteth the graven image that its maker hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

19 Woe to him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

20 But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.