Habakkuk’s First Complaint 1 UEB The message that Habakkuk the prophet received, BSB BSB: This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:
3 UEB Why do you make me see iniquity and look upon wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention rises up. BSB BSB: Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
4 UEB Therefore the law is weakened, and justice does not last for any time. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore false justice goes out." BSB BSB: Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
The LORD’s Answer 5 UEB "Look at the nations and examine them; be amazed and astonished! For I am surely about to do something in your days that you will not believe when it is reported to you. BSB BSB: “Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
6 UEB For look! I am about to raise up the Chaldeans—that fierce and impetuous nation— they are marching throughout the breadth of the land to seize homes that were not their own. BSB BSB: For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 UEB They are terrifying and fearsome; their judgment and splendor proceed from themselves. BSB BSB: They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
8 UEB Their horses also are swifter than leopards, quicker than the evening wolves. So their horses stamp, and their horsemen come from a great distance—they fly like an eagle hurrying to eat. BSB BSB: Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
9 UEB They all come for violence; their multitudes go like the desert wind, and they gather captives like sand. BSB BSB: All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.
10 UEB So they mock kings, and rulers are only a mockery for them. They laugh at every stronghold, for they heap up earth and take them. BSB BSB: They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it.
11 UEB Then the wind will rush on; it will move past—guilty men, those whose might is their god." BSB BSB: Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.”
Habakkuk’s Second Complaint (Psalm 11:1–7)
12 UEB "Are you not from ancient times, Yahweh my God, my Holy One? We will not die. Yahweh has ordained them for judgment, and you, Rock, have established them for correction. BSB BSB: Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction.
13 UEB Your eyes are too pure to gaze upon evil, and you are not able to look on wrongdoing with favor; why then have you looked favorably on those who betray? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they are? BSB BSB: Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 UEB You make men like fish in the sea, like creeping things without a ruler over them. BSB BSB: You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
15 UEB He brings all of them up with a fishhook; he drags men away in his fishnet; he gathers them together in his dragnet; so he rejoices and he is glad. BSB BSB: The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly.
16 UEB Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury, and his food is the richest kind. BSB BSB: Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich.
17 UEB Will he therefore keep emptying his net, and will he continually slaughter the nations without mercy?" BSB BSB: Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?