Therefore the (A)Law [a]is ignored,
And justice [b]is never upheld.
For the wicked (B)surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out (C)confused.

(D)Look among the nations! Watch!
Be horrified! (E)Be frightened speechless!
For I am accomplishing (F)a work in your days—
You would not believe it even if [c]you were told!
For behold, I am (G)raising up the Chaldeans,
That [d]grim and impetuous people
Who march [e]throughout the earth,
To (H)take possession of dwelling places that are not theirs.

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 1:4 Or is ineffective; lit turns cold
  2. Habakkuk 1:4 Lit never goes forth
  3. Habakkuk 1:5 Lit it
  4. Habakkuk 1:6 Lit bitter
  5. Habakkuk 1:6 Lit the breadth of

Therefore the law(A) is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice(B) is perverted.(C)

The Lord’s Answer

“Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.(D)
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.(E)
I am raising up the Babylonians,[a](F)
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth(G)
    to seize dwellings not their own.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 1:6 Or Chaldeans