\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Habakkuk}
{\MT Habakkuk

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Habakkuk’s message
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}The
message
seen
by
the
prophet
Habakkuk.
\par }{\SH (Habakkuk)
\par }{\Q \VS{2}How
long,
{\ND{
Lord}},
have
I
cried
out
\par }{\QB and
without
you
hearing
me!
\par }{\Q I
cry
to
you, ‘Violence!’
\par }{\QB but
you
do
not
help.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Why
do
you
make
me
look
upon
wickedness
\par }{\QB and
behold
trouble?
\par }{\Q Destruction
and
violence
are
before
my
eyes,
\par }{\QB and
fighting
and quarrelling.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Therefore
the
law
is
weak,
\par }{\QB and
justice
is
never
rendered;
\par }{\Q for
the
wicked
surround
the
righteous,
\par }{\QB so
that
justice
is
perverted.
\par }{\SH (The
Lord)
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Look
at
the
nations,
look
well,
\par }{\QB be
shocked
and
amazed.
\par }{\Q For
I
am
about
to
do
a
work
in
your
days;
\par }{\QB you
will
not
believe
it
when
it
is
told.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}For
I
am
about
to
raise
up
the
Chaldeans,
\par }{\QB a
nation grim
and
quick
of
action
\par }{\Q who
sweep
over
the
whole
breadth
of
the
earth
\par }{\QB to
seize
dwellings
not
their
own.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
bring
fear
and
terror.
\par }{\QB They
write
their
own
rules.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Their
horses
are
swifter
than
leopards,
\par }{\QB quicker
than
wolves
hunting
at
dusk.
\par }{\Q From
afar
they
come
swooping
down,
\par }{\QB like
an
eagle
attacking
its
prey.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}They
all
come
to
do
violence,
\par }{\QB a
horde
like
a
desert
wind,
\par }{\QB they
gather
up
captives
like
sand.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}At
kings
they
scoff,
\par }{\QB and
princes
are
sport
to
them.
\par }{\Q They
laugh
at
every
fortress,
\par }{\QB and
heap
up
earth
to
take
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Then
they
sweep
on
like
the
wind,
\par }{\QB Their
strength
is
their
god.
\par }{\SH (Habakkuk)
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Are
you
not
eternal,
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\QB my
holy
one,
who
does
not
die?
\par }{\Q {\ND{
Lord}}
you
have
appointed
them
to
execute
judgment,
\par }{\QB my
rock,
you
have
established
them
to
punish.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Your
eyes
are
too
pure
to
look
at
evil,
\par }{\QB you
cannot
condone
iniquity.
\par }{\Q So
why
do
you
regard
the
treacherous
in
silence,
\par }{\QB while
the
wicked
swallows
the
upright?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}You
have
made
people
like
the
fish
of
the
sea,
\par }{\QB like
reptiles
that
have
no
ruler.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}The
wicked
sweep
them
all
into
their
nets,
\par }{\QB and
gather
them
into
their drag-nets,
\par }{\QB and
rejoice
and
celebrate.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Therefore
they
sacrifice
to
their
net,
\par }{\QB and
burn
offerings
to
their drag-net;
\par }{\Q for
by
their
nets
are
their
portions
generous,
\par }{\QB and
their
food
is
rich.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Will
they
empty
their
nets
continually,
\par }{\QB slaughter
nations unpityingly?
\par }{\BB \par }
\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}I
will
take
my
stand
on
my
watch-tower,
\par }{\QB and
station
myself
on
a turret.
\par }{\Q I
will
watch
to
see
what
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
will
say
to
me,
\par }{\QB what
answer
he
will
make
to
my
complaint.
\par }{\SH (The
Lord)
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Then
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
answered
me
and
said:
\par }{\Q Inscribe
the
vision
plainly
on
tablets,
\par }{\QB so
that
even
someone
running
by
could
read
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Though
the
vision
waits
for
the
time
set,
\par }{\QB it
hastens
to fulfilment
and
will
not
fail;
\par }{\Q Though
it
linger
long,
wait
for
it.
\par }{\QB For
it
surely
will
come
and
will
not
be
delayed.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}The
strength
of
the
proud
fails,
\par }{\QB but
the
upright
lives
by
their
faithfulness.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Wealth
is
treacherous,
\par }{\QB the
arrogant
never
have
enough.
\par }{\Q They
make
their
desire
as
wide
as
Sheol,
\par }{\QB are
like
death,
unsatisfied,
\par }{\Q For
they
gather
to
themselves
all
the
nations,
\par }{\QB bring
together
to
themselves
all
peoples.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Shouldn’t
everyone
mock
them?
\par }{\QB sing
a
taunt-song
against
them,
and
say:
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Woe
to
the
person
who
amasses
what
is
not
theirs,
\par }{\QB and
loads
them self
down
with
goods
taken
in
pledge!
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Won’t
your
creditors
suddenly
rise,
\par }{\QB and
those
who
will
overthrow
you
awake,
\par }{\QB and
you
become
their
prey?
\par }{\Q \VS{8}For
as
you
have
plundered
many
peoples,
\par }{\QB the
survivors
will
prey
upon
you.
\par }{\Q You
have
shed
blood
and
committed
violence
\par }{\QB to
the
earth,
peoples
and
their
cities.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Woe
to
you
who
seeks
unjust
gain
for
your
dynasty,
\par }{\Q who
sets
your
nest
on
high
to
be
safe
from
the
reach
of
misfortune!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}You
have
planned
only
shame
for
your
dynasty.
\par }{\Q You
have
destroyed
many
peoples,
\par }{\QB and
brought
guilt
upon
yourself;
\par }{\Q \VS{11}the
stone
will
cry
out
from
the
wall,
\par }{\QB and
the
beam
from
the
timber
will
answer
it.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Woe
to
the
person
who
builds
a
city
by
bloodshed,
\par }{\QB and
founds
a
town
by
crime
\par }{\Q \VS{13}while
the
peoples
toil
for
what
fires
will
consume,
\par }{\QB and
the
nations
weary
themselves
for
nothing!
\par }{\PP This
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
of
hosts
has
said,
\VS{14}and
the
earth
will
be
as
full
of
the
knowledge
of
the
glory
of
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
as
the
seas
are
full
of
water.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Woe
to
him
who
in
fury
gives
drink
to
his
neighbor
\par }{\QB to
make
him
drunk,
and
see
him
naked.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}You
are
filled
with
shame,
not
glory;
\par }{\QB drink
yourself
and
be
uncovered.
\par }{\Q The
cup
from
the
{\ND{
Lord}}’s
hand
\par }{\QB will
pass
in
turn
to
you,
\par }{\QB and
shame
will
cover
your
glory!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}For
the
violence
done
to
Lebanon
will
overwhelm
you,
\par }{\QB the
destruction
of
animals
will
terrify
you,
\par }{\Q because
you
shed
people’s
blood
on
the
earth,
\par }{\QB destroyed
people
and
their
cities.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}What
use
is
an
idol?
\par }{\Q A
human
made
it,
\par }{\QB a
metal
image.
\par }{\Q It
cannot
speak,
\par }{\QB it
cannot
teach
truth,
\par }{\Q Why
does
its
maker
trust
it?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}Woe
to
the
person
who
says
to
a
block,
awake!
\par }{\QB to
a
dumb
stone,
arise!
\par }{\Q What
can
it
teach?
\par }{\Q It
may
be
set
with
gold
and
silver,
\par }{\QB but
there
is
no
breath
at
all
within
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
in
his
holy
temple.
\par }{\QB Let
all
the
earth
be
silent
before
him!

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Habakkuk’s psalm
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}A
prayer
of
Habakkuk
the
prophet,
according
to
the
Shigionoth.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}I
have
heard,
{\ND{
Lord}},
of
your
fame,
\par }{\QB I
have
seen,
{\ND{
Lord}},
your
work;
\par }{\Q through
the
years
you
have
make
yourself
known,
\par }{\QB in
wrath
you
remember
mercy.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}God
comes
from
Teman,
\par }{\QB and
the
Holy
One
from
the mountain-land
of
Paran.
\par }{\QS 
Selah\par }
{\Q His
glory
covers
the
heavens,
\par }{\QB and
his splendour
fills
the
earth.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Before
him
it
is
like
the
light,
\par }{\QB rays
he
has
at
his
side,
\par }{\QB where
his
power
is
hidden.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Before
him
pestilence
stalks,
\par }{\QB after
him
plague
follows.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}He
stands,
and
the
earth
trembles,
\par }{\QB he
looks,
and
the
nations
melt
away,
\par }{\Q and
the
mountains
of
old
are
scattered,
\par }{\QB the
everlasting
hills
bow
down.
\par }{\Q These
are
his
ways
from
of
old.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}The
tents
of
Cushan
are
afraid,
\par }{\QB the
curtains
of
Midian
tremble.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Is
your
wrath,
{\ND{
Lord}},
with
the
rivers?
\par }{\QB Is
your
anger
against
the
streams?
\par }{\QB Or
your
rage
against
the
sea?
\par }{\Q Is
that
why
you
ride
on
your war-steeds?
\par }{\QB Why
you
mount
your
chariots
of
victory?
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Why
you
bare
your
bow?
\par }{\QB Why
you
fill
your
quiver
with
shafts?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q You
split
the
earth
with
torrents.
\par }{\QB \VS{10}The
mountains
see
you
and
writhe.
\par }{\Q The
tempest
of
waters
sweeps
by.
\par }{\QB The
great
deep
sends
forth
its
voice,
\par }{\QB and
lifts
up
its
hands.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The
sun
forgets
to
rise.
\par }{\QB The
moon
stands
still
in
its
place.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Your
arrows
go
forth
to
give
light.
\par }{\QB Your
glittering
spear
is
as
lightning.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}In
rage
you
stride
over
the
earth.
\par }{\QB In
wrath
you
trample
the
nations.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}You
go
forth
to
save
your
people.
\par }{\QB You
go
to
help
your
anointed.
\par }{\Q You
crush
the
head
of
the
wicked
nation,
\par }{\QB laying
him
bare
from
thigh
to
neck.
\par }{\QS 
Selah\par }
{\Q \VS{14}You
pierced
his
head
with
his
spears,
\par }{\QB as
his champions
storm
out
to
scatter
us,
\par }{\QB as
they
rejoice
to
devour
the
poor
secretly.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}You
tread
the
sea
with
your
horses,
\par }{\QB while
the
mighty
waters
roar.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}I
hear,
and
my
body
trembles,
\par }{\QB and
at
the
sound
my
lips
quiver.
\par }{\Q My
bones
begin
to
decay,
\par }{\QB and
my
footsteps
totter
beneath
me,
\par }{\Q while
I
long
for
the
day
of
distress
\par }{\QB to
come
upon
those
who
attack
us.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}Though
the
fig
tree
bears
no
fruit,
\par }{\QB and
there
are
no
grapes
on
the
vines,
\par }{\Q though
the
olive
harvest
fails,
\par }{\QB and
the
fields
produce
no
food,
\par }{\Q though
the
flock
is
cut
off
from
the
fold,
\par }{\QB and
there
is
no
herd
in
the
stalls,
\par }{\Q \VS{18}yet
I
will
exult
in
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\QB and
rejoice
in
the
God
who
saves
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}The
Lord
{\ND{
God}}
is
my
strength;
\par }{\QB he
makes
my
feet
as
sure
as
the
feet
of
deer,
\par }{\QB and
causes
me
to
walk
on
the
heights!
\par }{\PP To
the
music
director:
Use
stringed
instruments.
\par }