Look, his ego is inflated;[a]
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.[b](A)
Moreover, wine[c] betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.[d]
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.(B)
He gathers all the nations to himself;(C)
he collects all the peoples for himself.

The Five Woe Oracles

Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,(D)
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say,
“Woe to him who amasses what is not his—
how much longer?(E)
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:4 Hb obscure
  2. 2:4 Or faithfulness
  3. 2:5 DSS read wealth
  4. 2:5 Or man does not endure; Hb obscure

“See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person(A) will live by his faithfulness[a](B)
indeed, wine(C) betrays him;
    he is arrogant(D) and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
    and like death is never satisfied,(E)
he gathers to himself all the nations
    and takes captive(F) all the peoples.

“Will not all of them taunt(G) him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
    and makes himself wealthy by extortion!(H)
    How long must this go on?’

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 2:4 Or faith

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

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:

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!

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