Hab.2.1
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
Hab.2.1
What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint.
Hab.2.1
I 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.
Hab.2.1
I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
Hab.2.1
I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint.
Hab.2.2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Hab.2.2
And then GOD answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.
Hab.2.2
Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
Hab.2.2
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
Hab.2.2
Then the LORD said to me, "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else.
Hab.2.3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Hab.2.3
This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming. It aches for the coming--it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time. [JC]
Hab.2.3
For 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.
Hab.2.3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Hab.2.3
But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
Hab.2.4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Hab.2.4
"Look at that man, bloated by self-importance--full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.
Hab.2.4
"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright- but the righteous will live by his faith -
Hab.2.4
"Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.
Hab.2.4
"Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.
Hab.2.5
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
Hab.2.5
"Note well: Money deceives. The arrogant rich don't last. They are more hungry for wealth than the grave is for cadavers. Like death, they always want more, but the "more' they get is dead bodies. They are cemeteries filled with dead nations, graveyards filled with corpses.
Hab.2.5
indeed, 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.
Hab.2.5
"Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, He is a proud man, And he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied, He gathers to himself all nations And heaps up for himself all peoples.
Hab.2.5
Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They range far and wide, with their mouths opened as wide as death, but they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and peoples.
Hab.2.6
Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
Hab.2.6
Don't give people like this a second thought. Soon the whole world will be taunting them: Who do you think you are--getting rich by stealing and extortion? How long do you think you can get away with this?'
Hab.2.6
"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?'
Hab.2.6
"Will not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, "Woe to him who increases What is not his--how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges'?
Hab.2.6
But the time is coming when all their captives will taunt them, saying, `You thieves! At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get what you deserve for your oppression and extortion!'
Hab.2.7
Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
Hab.2.7
Indeed, how long before your victims wake up, stand up and make you the victim?
Hab.2.7
Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim.
Hab.2.7
Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.
Hab.2.7
Suddenly, your debtors will rise up in anger. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
Hab.2.8
Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Hab.2.8
You've plundered nation after nation. Now you'll get a taste of your own medicine. All the survivors are out to plunder you, a payback for all your murders and massacres.
Hab.2.8
Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man's blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
Hab.2.8
Because you have plundered many nations, All the remnant of the people shall plunder you, Because of men's blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it.
Hab.2.8
You have plundered many nations; now they will plunder you. You murderers! You have filled the countryside with violence and all the cities, too.
Hab.2.9
Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Hab.2.9
"Who do you think you are--recklessly grabbing and looting, Living it up, acting like king of the mountain, acting above it all, above trials and troubles?
Hab.2.9
"Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!
Hab.2.9
"Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
Hab.2.9
"How terrible it will be for you who get rich by unjust means! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your families beyond the reach of danger.
Hab.2.10
Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
Hab.2.10
You've engineered the ruin of your own house. In ruining others you've ruined yourself. You've undermined your foundations, rotted out your own soul.
Hab.2.10
You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.
Hab.2.10
You give shameful counsel to your house, Cutting off many peoples, And sin against your soul.
Hab.2.10
But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.
Hab.2.11
For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
Hab.2.11
The bricks of your house will speak up and accuse you. The woodwork will step forward with evidence.
Hab.2.11
The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
Hab.2.11
For the stone will cry out from the wall, And the beam from the timbers will answer it.
Hab.2.11
The very stones in the walls of your houses cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
Hab.2.12
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Hab.2.12
"Who do you think you are--building a town by murder, a city with crime?
Hab.2.12
"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!
Hab.2.12
"Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, Who establishes a city by iniquity!
Hab.2.12
"How terrible it will be for you who build cities with money gained by murder and corruption!
Hab.2.13
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Hab.2.13
Don't you know that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies makes sure nothing comes of that but ashes, Makes sure the harder you work at that kind of thing, the less you are?
Hab.2.13
Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
Hab.2.13
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts That the peoples labor to feed the fire, And nations weary themselves in vain?
Hab.2.13
Has not the LORD Almighty promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!
Hab.2.14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Hab.2.14
Meanwhile the earth fills up with awareness of GOD's glory as the waters cover the sea.
Hab.2.14
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Hab.2.14
For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
Hab.2.14
For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.
Hab.2.15
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
Hab.2.15
"Who do you think you are--inviting your neighbors to your drunken parties, Giving them too much to drink, roping them into your sexual orgies?
Hab.2.15
"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.
Hab.2.15
"Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!
Hab.2.15
"How terrible it will be for you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so that you can gloat over their nakedness and shame.
Hab.2.16
Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
Hab.2.16
You thought you were having the time of your life. Wrong! It's a time of disgrace. All the time you were drinking, you were drinking from the cup of God's wrath.
Hab.2.16
You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the LORD's right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.
Hab.2.16
You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also--drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD's right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory.
Hab.2.16
But soon it will be your turn! Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD's judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame.
Hab.2.17
For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Hab.2.17
You'll wake up holding your throbbing head, hung over--hung over from Lebanon violence, Hung over from animal massacres, hung over from murder and mayhem, From multiple violations of place and people.
Hab.2.17
The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed man's blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
Hab.2.17
For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, Because of men's blood And the violence of the land and the city, And of all who dwell in it.
Hab.2.17
You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you will be cut down! You terrified the wild animals you caught in your traps. Now terror will strike you because of your murder and violence in cities everywhere!
Hab.2.18
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Hab.2.18
"What's the use of a carved god so skillfully carved by its sculptor? What good is a fancy cast god when all it tells is lies? What sense does it make to be a pious god-maker who makes gods that can't even talk?
Hab.2.18
"Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Hab.2.18
"What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols?
Hab.2.18
"What have you gained by worshiping all your man-made idols? How foolish to trust in something made by your own hands! What fools you are to believe such lies!
Hab.2.19
Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Hab.2.19
Who do you think you are--saying to a stick of wood, "Wake up,' Or to a dumb stone, "Get up'? Can they teach you anything about anything? There's nothing to them but surface. There's nothing on the inside.
Hab.2.19
Woe 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.
Hab.2.19
Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake!' To silent stone, "Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all.
Hab.2.19
How terrible it will be for you who beg lifeless wooden idols to save you. You ask speechless stone images to tell you what to do. Can an idol speak for God? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside.
Hab.2.20
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Hab.2.20
"But oh! GOD is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone--a holy silence. Listen!" God Racing on the Crest of the Waves
Hab.2.20
But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
Hab.2.20
"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him."
Hab.2.20
But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him."
