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Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
Contemporary English Version
Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
Contemporary English Version
Habakkuk Complains Again
12 Holy Lord God, mighty rock,[a]
you are eternal,
and we[b] are safe from death.
You are using those Babylonians
to judge and punish others.[c]
13 But you can't stand sin or wrong.
So don't sit by in silence
while they gobble up people
who are better than they are.
14 The people you put on this earth
are like fish or reptiles
without a leader.
15 Then an enemy comes along
and takes them captive
with hooks and nets.
It makes him so happy
16 that he offers sacrifices
to his fishing nets,
because they make him rich
and provide choice foods.
17 Will he keep hauling in his nets
and destroying nations
without showing mercy?
The Lord Answers Habakkuk Again
2 While standing guard
on the watchtower,
I waited for the Lord's answer,
before explaining the reason
for my complaint.[d]
2 Then the Lord told me:
“I will give you my message
in the form of a vision.
Write it clearly enough
to be read at a glance.
3 (A) At the time I have decided,
my words will come true.
You can trust what I say
about the future.
It may take a long time,
but keep on waiting—
it will happen!
4 (B) “I, the Lord, refuse to accept
anyone who is proud.
Only those who live by faith
are acceptable to me.”[e]
Footnotes
- 1.12 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has “rock,” which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the Lord to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.
- 1.12 we: Hebrew; one ancient Jewish tradition “you.”
- 1.12 You … others: Or “You will judge and punish those Babylonians.”
- 2.1 I … complaint: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 2.4 Only … me: Or “But those who are acceptable to me will live because of their faithfulness.”
Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
New International Version
Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
New International Version
Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?(A)
My God, my Holy One,(B) you[a] will never die.(C)
You, Lord, have appointed(D) them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock,(E) have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure(F) to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.(G)
Why then do you tolerate(H) the treacherous?(I)
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?(J)
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked(K) foe pulls all of them up with hooks,(L)
he catches them in his net,(M)
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
and burns incense(N) to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
destroying nations without mercy?(O)
2 I will stand at my watch(P)
and station myself on the ramparts;(Q)
I will look to see what he will say(R) to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[b](S)
The Lord’s Answer
2 Then the Lord replied:
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:12 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text we
- Habakkuk 2:1 Or and what to answer when I am rebuked
- Habakkuk 2:2 Or so that whoever reads it
- Habakkuk 2:3 Or Though he linger, wait for him; / he
- Habakkuk 2:4 Or faith
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