Hab.1.1
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Hab.1.1
The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:
Hab.1.1
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Hab.1.1
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
Hab.1.1
This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received from the LORD in a vision.
Hab.1.2
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Hab.1.2
GOD, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to the rescue?
Hab.1.2
How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
Hab.1.2
O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save.
Hab.1.2
How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! "Violence!" I cry, but you do not come to save.
Hab.1.3
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Hab.1.3
Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.
Hab.1.3
Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Hab.1.3
Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.
Hab.1.3
Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
Hab.1.4
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Hab.1.4
Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.
Hab.1.4
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Hab.1.4
Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Hab.1.4
The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.
Hab.1.5
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Hab.1.5
"Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard to believe.
Hab.1.5
"Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Hab.1.5
"Look among the nations and watch-- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
Hab.1.5
The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.
Hab.1.6
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
Hab.1.6
I'm about to raise up Babylonians to punish you, Babylonians, fierce and ferocious--World-conquering Babylon, grabbing up nations right and left,
Hab.1.6
I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own.
Hab.1.6
For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
Hab.1.6
I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene. They are a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it.
Hab.1.7
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
Hab.1.7
A dreadful and terrible people, making up its own rules as it goes.
Hab.1.7
They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
Hab.1.7
They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
Hab.1.7
They are notorious for their cruelty. They do as they like, and no one can stop them.
Hab.1.8
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.
Hab.1.8
Their horses run like the wind, attack like bloodthirsty wolves. A stampede of galloping horses thunders out of nowhere. They descend like vultures circling in on carrion.
Hab.1.8
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour;
Hab.1.8
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.
Hab.1.8
Their horses are swifter than leopards. They are a fierce people, more fierce than wolves at dusk. Their horsemen race forward from distant places. Like eagles they swoop down to pounce on their prey.
Hab.1.9
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
Hab.1.9
They're out to kill. Death is on their minds. They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts.
Hab.1.9
they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.
Hab.1.9
"They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.
Hab.1.9
"On they come, all of them bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a wind from the desert, sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.
Hab.1.10
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
Hab.1.10
They mock kings, poke fun at generals, Spit on forts, and leave them in the dust.
Hab.1.10
They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them.
Hab.1.10
They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.
Hab.1.10
They scoff at kings and princes and scorn all their defenses. They simply pile ramps of earth against their walls and capture them!
Hab.1.11
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
Hab.1.11
They'll all be blown away by the wind. Brazen in sin, they call strength their god."
Hab.1.11
Then they sweep past like the wind and go on- guilty men, whose own strength is their god."
Hab.1.11
Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god."
Hab.1.11
They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god."
Hab.1.12
Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
Hab.1.12
GOD, you're from eternity, aren't you? Holy God, we aren't going to die, are we? GOD, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?
Hab.1.12
O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.
Hab.1.12
Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.
Hab.1.12
O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal--is your plan in all of this to wipe us out? Surely not! O LORD our Rock, you have decreed the rise of these Babylonians to punish and correct us for our terrible sins.
Hab.1.13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
Hab.1.13
But you can't be serious! You can't condone evil! So why don't you do something about this? Why are you silent now? This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous and you stand around and watch! [JC]
Hab.1.13
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Hab.1.13
You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
Hab.1.13
You are perfectly just in this. But will you, who cannot allow sin in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up? Should you be silent while the wicked destroy people who are more righteous than they?
Hab.1.14
And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
Hab.1.14
You're treating men and women as so many fish in the ocean, Swimming without direction, swimming but not getting anywhere.
Hab.1.14
You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler.
Hab.1.14
Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?
Hab.1.14
Are we but fish to be caught and killed? Are we but creeping things that have no leader to defend them from their enemies?
Hab.1.15
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.
Hab.1.15
Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing. He pulls in a good catch. He catches his limit and fills his creel--a good day of fishing! He's happy!
Hab.1.15
The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.
Hab.1.15
They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad.
Hab.1.15
Must we be strung up on their hooks and dragged out in their nets while they rejoice?
Hab.1.16
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Hab.1.16
He praises his rod and reel, piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it! It's made his day, and he's going to eat well tonight! [JC]
Hab.1.16
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.
Hab.1.16
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful.
Hab.1.16
Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them. "These nets are the gods who have made us rich!" they will claim.
Hab.1.17
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
Hab.1.17
Are you going to let this go on and on? Will you let this Babylonian fisherman Fish like a weekend angler, killing people as if they're nothing but fish? [JC]
Hab.1.17
Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?
Hab.1.17
Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?
Hab.1.17
Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?
