1 The oracle, the vision of the prophet Habakkuk.

5 

Look, faithless creatures,

gaze and be aghast!

for a deed is to be done in your day

that you would not believe, if you were told it.

6 

I am rousing the Chaldeans,

that fierce and fiery race,

who march the broad earth over

to seize homes not their own;

7 

dire they are and dreadful,

a destructive power,

8 

swifter than leopards their horses,

keener their cavalry than wolves by night,

they swoop from far away

like vultures pouncing on their prey;

9 

their host swarms up for havoc,

eager and onward,

sweeping up prisoners like sand;

10 

they scoff at kings

and rulers they deride;

a fortress is a sport to them,

they pile their mounds of earth and capture it--

11 

then forward like the wind!

I would put my plea before my God.

2 

O thou Eternal, how long shall I cry,

and thou wilt never hear?

I complain to thee of wrongs,

and yet thou wilt not help.

3 

Why make me gaze on misery?

Why must I look on at oppression?

Under mine eyes outrage and injury go on,

till strife is stirred and faction; 4 and so Law is benumbed,

justice is never in action--

for evil men hamper the just,

till justice goes awry.

12 

Art thou not the Eternal from of old,

my God, my Majestic One?-- thou diest not.

Are they a judgment from thee, O Eternal,

messengers of chastisement?

13 

Thine eyes are too pure to rest on evil,

thou canst not look on at oppression.

Why then look on at ruthless men?

Why then be silent when the impious

are swallowing up the good?

14 

Thou hast made men like fishes in the sea,

like swarms without a chief;

15 

the impious hook them, haul them up,

sweep them into the net,

and catch them in their seine,

shouting for joy;

16 

in honour of their net they sacrifice,

and they bum incense to their seine,

for yielding them so rich a catch,

and food so plentiful.

17 

Are they to go on drawing the sword,

murdering peoples without pity?