1The burden4853 which Habakkuk2265 the prophet5030 did see2372.
2O LORD3068, how long shall I cry7768, and thou wilt not hear8085! even cry out2199 unto thee of violence2555, and thou wilt not save3467!
3Why dost thou shew7200 me iniquity205, and cause me to behold5027 grievance5999? for spoiling7701 and violence2555 are before me: and there are that raise up5375 strife7379 and contention4066.
4Therefore the law8451 is slacked6313, and judgment4941 doth never5331 go forth3318: for the wicked7563 doth compass3803 about the righteous6662; therefore wrong6127 judgment4941 proceedeth3318.
5Behold7200 ye among the heathen1471, and regard5027, and wonder8539 marvellously8539: for I will work6466 a work6467 in your days3117, which ye will not believe539, though it be told5608 you.
6For, lo, I raise up6965 the Chaldeans3778, that bitter4751 and hasty4116 nation1471, which shall march1980 through the breadth4800 of the land776, to possess3423 the dwellingplaces4908 that are not theirs.
7They are terrible366 and dreadful3372: their judgment4941 and their dignity7613 shall proceed3318 of themselves.
8Their horses5483 also are swifter7043 than the leopards5246, and are more fierce2300 than the evening6153 wolves2061: and their horsemen6571 shall spread6335 themselves, and their horsemen6571 shall come935 from far7350; they shall fly5774 as the eagle5404 that hasteth2363 to eat398.
9They shall come935 all for violence2555: their faces6440 shall sup up4041 as the east wind6921, and they shall gather622 the captivity7628 as the sand2344.
10And they shall scoff7046 at the kings4428, and the princes7336 shall be a scorn4890 unto them: they shall deride7832 every strong hold4013; for they shall heap6651 dust6083, and take3920 it.
11Then shall his mind7307 change2498, and he shall pass over5674, and offend816, imputing this2098 his power3581 unto his god433.
12Art thou not from everlasting6924, O LORD3068 my God430, mine Holy One6918? we shall not die4191. O LORD3068, thou hast ordained7760 them for judgment4941; and, O mighty God6697, thou hast established3245 them for correction3198.
13Thou art of purer2889 eyes5869 than to behold7200 evil7451, and canst3201 not look5027 on iniquity5999: wherefore lookest5027 thou upon them that deal treacherously898, and holdest thy tongue2790 when the wicked7563 devoureth1104 the man that is more righteous6662 than he?
14And makest6213 men120 as the fishes1709 of the sea3220, as the creeping things7431, that have no ruler4910 over them?
15They take up5927 all of them with the angle2443, they catch1641 them in their net2764, and gather622 them in their drag4365: therefore they rejoice8055 and are glad1523.
16Therefore they sacrifice2076 unto their net2764, and burn incense6999 unto their drag4365; because by them1992 their portion2506 is fat8082, and their meat3978 plenteous1277.
17Shall they therefore empty7324 their net2764, and not spare2550 continually8548 to slay2026 the nations1471?