Habakkuk

1 The •oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 

Habakkuk’s First Prayer

2 How long,  Lord, must I call for help and You do not listenor cry out to You about violenceand You do not save?3 Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate A wrongdoing?Oppression and violence are right in front of me.Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.4 This is why the law is ineffectiveand justice never emerges.For the wicked restrict  the righteous;therefore, justice  comes out perverted.

God’s First Answer

5 Look at the nations  and observe  —be utterly astounded! For something is taking place in your daysthat you will not believe when you hear about it. 6 Look! I am raising up  the Chaldeans, that bitter,  impetuous nationthat marches across the earth’s open spacesto seize territories not its own.7 They are fierce  and terrifying;their views of justice and sovereigntystem from themselves.8 Their horses are swifter  than leopards and more fierce B than wolves of the night.Their horsemen charge ahead;their horsemen come from distant lands.They fly like an eagle, swooping to devour. 9 All of them come to do violence;their faces  are set in determination. CThey gather  prisoners like sand. 10 They mock  kings,and rulers are a joke to them.They laugh  at every fortressand build siege ramps to capture  it.11 Then they sweep  by like the windand pass through.They are •guilty; D their strength is their god.

Habakkuk’s Second Prayer

12 Are You not from eternity, •Yahweh my God?My Holy One,  You  will not die.Lord, You appointed them to execute judgment;my Rock,  You destined them to punish us.13 Your eyes  are too pure  to look on evil,and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silentwhile one  who is wicked swallows upone  who is more righteous than himself?14 You have made mankindlike the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler.15 The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,catch them in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net;that is why they are glad and rejoice.16 That is why they sacrifice to their dragnetand burn incense to their fishing net,for by these things their portion is richand their food plentiful. 17 Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?