“Will all of these not (A)take up a song of ridicule against him,
Even a saying and insinuations against him
And say, ‘(B)Woe to him who increases what is not his—
For how long—
And makes himself [a]rich with debts!’
Will [b]your creditors not (C)rise up suddenly,
And those who [c]collect from you awaken?
Indeed, you will become plunder for them.
Since you have (D)looted many nations,
All the rest of the peoples will loot you—
Because of human bloodshed and violence [d]done to the land,
To the town and all its inhabitants.

“Woe to him who makes (E)evil profit for his household,
To (F)put his nest on high,
To be saved from the hand of catastrophe!
10 You have planned a (G)shameful thing for your house
By bringing many peoples to an end;
So you are (H)sinning against yourself.
11 For the (I)stone will cry out from the wall,
And the rafter will answer it from the [e]framework.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 2:6 Lit heavy
  2. Habakkuk 2:7 Lit those who bite you
  3. Habakkuk 2:7 Lit violently shake you
  4. Habakkuk 2:8 Lit of the land
  5. Habakkuk 2:11 Lit wood

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

“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
    and makes himself wealthy by extortion!(B)
    How long must this go on?’
Will not your creditors suddenly arise?
    Will they not wake up and make you tremble?
    Then you will become their prey.(C)
Because you have plundered many nations,
    the peoples who are left will plunder you.(D)
For you have shed human blood;(E)
    you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.(F)

“Woe to him who builds(G) his house by unjust gain,(H)
    setting his nest(I) on high
    to escape the clutches of ruin!
10 You have plotted the ruin(J) of many peoples,
    shaming(K) your own house and forfeiting your life.
11 The stones(L) of the wall will cry out,
    and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

Read full chapter