Habakkuk 2
1I will take my post;
I will position myself on the fortress.
I will keep watch to see what the Lord says to me
and how he will respond to my complaint.
3There is still a vision for the appointed time; it testifies to the end; it does not deceive. If it delays, wait for it; for it is surely coming; it will not be late.
4Some people’s desires are truly audacious; they don’t do the right thing. But the righteous person will live honestly.
5Moreover, wine betrays an arrogant man. He doesn’t rest. He opens his jaws like the grave; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself and collects all peoples for himself.
6Won’t everyone tell parables about him or mocking poems concerning him? They will say: Doom to the one who multiplies what doesn’t belong to him and who increases his own burden. How long?
7Won’t they suddenly rise up to bite you? Those who frighten you will awaken; you will become plunder for them.
8Since you yourself have plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you because of the human bloodshed and the violence done to the earth, to every village, and to all its inhabitants.
9Doom to the one making evil gain for his own house, for putting his own nest up high, for delivering himself from the grasp of calamity.
10You plan shame for your own house, cutting off many peoples and sinning against your own life.
11A stone will cry out from a village wall, and a tree branch will respond.
12Pity the one building a city with bloodshed and founding a village with injustice.
13Look, isn’t this from the LORD of heavenly forces? Peoples grow weary from making just enough fire; nations become tired for nothing.
14But the land will be full of the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, just as water covers the sea.
15Doom to the one who makes his companions drunk, pouring out your wrath in order to see them naked.
16You have drunk your fill of dishonor rather than glory. So drink and stagger. The cup of the LORD’s strong hand will come around to you; disgrace will engulf you.
17Because of the violence done to Lebanon, he will overwhelm you; the destruction of animals will terrify you, as will human bloodshed and violence throughout the land, the villages, and all their inhabitants.
18Of what value is an idol, when its potter carves it, or a cast image that has been shaped? It is a teacher of lies, for the potter trusts the pottery, though it is incapable of speaking.
19Doom to the one saying to the tree, “Wake up!” or “Get up” to the silent stone. Does it teach? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no breath within it.
20But the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.
The LORD responds
2Then the LORD answered me and said, Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet so that a runner can read it.3There is still a vision for the appointed time; it testifies to the end; it does not deceive. If it delays, wait for it; for it is surely coming; it will not be late.
4Some people’s desires are truly audacious; they don’t do the right thing. But the righteous person will live honestly.
5Moreover, wine betrays an arrogant man. He doesn’t rest. He opens his jaws like the grave; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself and collects all peoples for himself.
6Won’t everyone tell parables about him or mocking poems concerning him? They will say: Doom to the one who multiplies what doesn’t belong to him and who increases his own burden. How long?
7Won’t they suddenly rise up to bite you? Those who frighten you will awaken; you will become plunder for them.
8Since you yourself have plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you because of the human bloodshed and the violence done to the earth, to every village, and to all its inhabitants.
9Doom to the one making evil gain for his own house, for putting his own nest up high, for delivering himself from the grasp of calamity.
10You plan shame for your own house, cutting off many peoples and sinning against your own life.
11A stone will cry out from a village wall, and a tree branch will respond.
12Pity the one building a city with bloodshed and founding a village with injustice.
13Look, isn’t this from the LORD of heavenly forces? Peoples grow weary from making just enough fire; nations become tired for nothing.
14But the land will be full of the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, just as water covers the sea.
15Doom to the one who makes his companions drunk, pouring out your wrath in order to see them naked.
16You have drunk your fill of dishonor rather than glory. So drink and stagger. The cup of the LORD’s strong hand will come around to you; disgrace will engulf you.
17Because of the violence done to Lebanon, he will overwhelm you; the destruction of animals will terrify you, as will human bloodshed and violence throughout the land, the villages, and all their inhabitants.
18Of what value is an idol, when its potter carves it, or a cast image that has been shaped? It is a teacher of lies, for the potter trusts the pottery, though it is incapable of speaking.
19Doom to the one saying to the tree, “Wake up!” or “Get up” to the silent stone. Does it teach? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no breath within it.
20But the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.