Habakkuk 2
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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 climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint. The LORD’s Second Reply
2Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.2Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.
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.3This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
4"See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness --4“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
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.5Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
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?'6“But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’
7Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.7Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
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.8Because you have plundered many nations, now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.
9"Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!9“What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.
10You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.10But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.
11The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.11The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
12"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!12“What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption!
13Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?13Has not the LORD of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!
14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.14For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.
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!15“What sorrow awaits you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their shameful 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.16But soon it will be your turn to be disgraced. Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame.
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.17You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you will be cut down. You destroyed the wild animals, so now their terror will be yours. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.
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.18“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk!
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."19What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside.
20The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.20But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”
New International Version (NIV)

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Habakkuk 1
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