Habakkuk’s First Complaint 1 WBS The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw. BSB BSB: This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:
3 WBS Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for devastation and violence are before me: and there are that raise strife and contention. 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 WBS Therefore the law is slackened, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth encompass the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 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 WBS Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told 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 WBS For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs. 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 WBS They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed from themselves. BSB BSB: They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
8 WBS Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth 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 WBS They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. BSB BSB: All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.
10 WBS And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 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 WBS Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power to his 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 WBS Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and O mighty God, thou hast 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 WBS Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: why lookest thou on them that deal treacherously, and keepest silence when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?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 WBS And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping animals that have no ruler over them? BSB BSB: You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler.
15 WBS They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are 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 WBS Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous. 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 WBS Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations? BSB BSB: Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?