The Proud Babylonians are as Good as Dead

6 “But all these nations will someday taunt him

and ridicule him with proverbial sayings:

‘The one who accumulates what does not belong to him is as good as dead

(How long will this go on?) –

he who gets rich by extortion!’

7 Your creditors will suddenly attack;

those who terrify you will spring into action,

and they will rob you.

8 Because you robbed many countries,

all who are left among the nations will rob you.

You have shed human blood

and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.

9 The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead.

He does this so he can build his nest way up high

and escape the clutches of disaster.

10 Your schemes will bring shame to your house.

Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct.

11 For the stones in the walls will cry out,

and the wooden rafters will answer back.

12 The one who builds a city by bloodshed is as good as dead –

he who starts a town by unjust deeds.

13 Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed:

The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke;

their exhausting work will be for nothing.

14 For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth

just as the waters fill up the sea.

15 “You who force your neighbor to drink wine are as good as dead –

you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger,

so you can look at their genitals.

16 But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty.

Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin!

The cup of wine in the Lord’s right hand is coming to you,

and disgrace will replace your majestic glory!

17 For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon;

terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there.

You have shed human blood

and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.

18 What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it?

What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles?

Why would its creator place his trust in it

and make such mute, worthless things?

19 The one who says to wood, ‘Wake up!’ is as good as dead –

he who says to speechless stone, ‘Awake!’

Can it give reliable guidance?

It is overlaid with gold and silver;

it has no life’s breath inside it.

20 But the Lord is in his majestic palace.

The whole earth is speechless in his presence!”

3 This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet:

2  Lord, I have heard the report of what you did;

I am awed, Lord, by what you accomplished.

In our time repeat those deeds;

in our time reveal them again.

But when you cause turmoil, remember to show us mercy!

3 God comes from Teman,

the sovereign one from Mount Paran. Selah.

His splendor covers the skies,

his glory fills the earth.

4 He is as bright as lightning;

a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand.

This is the outward display of his power.

5 Plague goes before him;

pestilence marches right behind him.

6 He takes his battle position and shakes the earth;

with a mere look he frightens the nations.

The ancient mountains disintegrate;

the primeval hills are flattened.

He travels on the ancient roads.

7 I see the tents of Cushan overwhelmed by trouble;

the tent curtains of the land of Midian are shaking.

8 Is the Lord mad at the rivers?

Are you angry with the rivers?

Are you enraged at the sea?

Is this why you climb into your horse-drawn chariots,

your victorious chariots?

9 Your bow is ready for action;

you commission your arrows. Selah.

You cause flash floods on the earth’s surface.

10 When the mountains see you, they shake.

The torrential downpour sweeps through.

The great deep shouts out;

it lifts its hands high.

11 The sun and moon stand still in their courses;

the flash of your arrows drives them away,

the bright light of your lightning-quick spear.

12 You furiously stomp on the earth,

you angrily trample down the nations.

13 You march out to deliver your people,

to deliver your special servant.

You strike the leader of the wicked nation,

laying him open from the lower body to the neck. Selah.

14 You pierce the heads of his warriors with a spear.

They storm forward to scatter us;

they shout with joy as if they were plundering the poor with no opposition.

15 But you trample on the sea with your horses,

on the surging, raging waters.