Habakkuk 2
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New International VersionHolman Christian Standard Bible
1I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.1I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.
2Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.2The LORD answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it.
3For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.3For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
4"See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness --4Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.
5indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.5Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.
6"Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, "'Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?'6Won't all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him? They will say: Woe to him who amasses what is not his-- how much longer?-- and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.
7Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.7Won't your creditors suddenly arise, and those who disturb you wake up? Then you will become spoil for them.
8Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.8Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you-- because of human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
9"Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!9Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house to place his nest on high, to escape from the reach of disaster!
10You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.10You have planned shame for your house by wiping out many peoples and sinning against your own self.
11The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.11For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will answer them from the woodwork.
12"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice!
13Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?13Is it not from the LORD of Hosts that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD's glory, as the waters cover the sea.
15"Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!15Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath and even making them drunk, in order to look at their nakedness!
16You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed! The cup from the LORD's right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.16You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory. You also--drink, and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.
17The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.17For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of animals will terrify you because of your human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
18"Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.18What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes idols that cannot speak.
19Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it."19Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.
20The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.20But the LORD is in His holy temple; let everyone on earth be silent in His presence.
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Habakkuk 1
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