Habacuc Propheta 1
1 Onus, quod vidit Habacuc propheta.
The revelation which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 Usquequo Domine clamabo, et non exaudies? vociferabor ad te vim patiens, et non salvabis?
LORD, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?
3 Quare ostendisti mihi iniquitatem, et laborem, videre prædam, et iniustitiam contra me? et factum est iudicium, et contradictio potentior.
Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.
4 Propter hoc lacerata est lex, et non pervenit usque ad finem iudicium: quia impius prævalet adversus iustum, propterea egreditur iudicium perversum.
Therefore the law is paralysed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.
5 Aspicite in gentibus, et videte: admiramini, et obstupescite: quia opus factum est in diebus vestris, quod nemo credet cum narrabitur.
“Look amongst the nations, watch, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days which you will not believe though it is told you.
6 Quia ecce ego suscitabo Chaldæos, gentem amaram et velocem, ambulantem super latitudinem terræ, ut possideat tabernacula non sua.
For, behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation who march through the width of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
7 Horribilis, et terribilis est: ex semetipsa iudicium, et onus eius egredietur.
They are feared and dreaded. Their judgement and their dignity proceed from themselves.
8 Leviores pardis equi eius, et velociores lupis vespertinis: et diffundentur equites eius: equites namque eius de longe venient, volabunt quasi aquila festinans ad comedendum.
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
9 Omnes ad prædam venient, facies eorum ventus urens: et congregabit quasi arenam, captivitatem.
All of them come for violence. Their hordes face forward. They gather prisoners like sand.
10 Et ipse de regibus triumphabit, et tyranni ridiculi eius erunt: ipse super omnem munitionem ridebit, et comportabit aggerem, et capiet eam.
Yes, they scoff at kings, and princes are a derision to them. They laugh at every stronghold, for they build up an earthen ramp and take it.
11 Tunc mutabitur spiritus, et pertransibit; et corruet: hæc est fortitudo eius dei sui.
Then they sweep by like the wind and go on. They are indeed guilty, whose strength is their god.”
12 Numquid non tu a principio Domine Deus meus, sancte meus, et non moriemur? Domine in iudicium posuisti eum: et fortem ut corriperes, fundasti eum.
Aren’t you from everlasting, LORD my God, my Holy One? We will not die. LORD, you have appointed them for judgement. You, Rock, have established him to punish.
13 Mundi sunt oculi tui, ne videas malum, et respicere ad iniquitatem non poteris. Quare respicis super iniqua agentes, et taces devorante impio iustiorem se?
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
14 Et facies homines quasi pisces maris, et quasi reptile non habens principem.
and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them?
15 Totum in hamo sublevavit, traxit illud in sagena sua, et congregavit in rete suum. Super hoc lætabitur et exultabit.
He takes up all of them with the hook. He catches them in his net and gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he rejoices and is glad.
16 Propterea immolabit sagenæ suæ, et sacrificabit reti suo: quia in ipsis incrassata est pars eius, et cibus eius electus.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious and his food is good.
17 Propter hoc ergo expandit sagenam suam, et semper interficere gentes non parcet.
Will he therefore continually empty his net, and kill the nations without mercy?
