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Habakkuk 2 International Standard Version (ISV)

Habakkuk Waits for the Answer

2 “I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on a tower.
I will wait and see what the Lord will say about me
    and what I will answer when he reprimands me.”

God’s Reply to the Prophet’s Complaint

2 When he answered, the Lord told me:
“Write out the revelation,
    engraving it clearly on the tablets,
        so that a courier may run with it.
3 For the revelation pertains to an appointed time—
    it speaks truthfully about the end.
Though it delays, wait for it,
    because it will surely come about—
        it will not be late!
4 “Notice their arrogance—
    they have no inward uprightness—
        but the righteous will live by their faith.
5 Moreover, just as wine leads astray the proud and powerful man,
    he remains restless;
he has expanded his appetite—
    like the afterlife or death itself, he is never satisfied.
He gathers to himself all of the nations,
    taking captive all of the people for himself.”

Judgment on the Plunderer of Nations

6 “Will not all of these ridicule him
    with mocking scorn? They will say,
‘Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn’t his.
    How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?’
7 Won’t your creditors revolt unexpectedly?
    Won’t those who make you tremble wake up?
        As a result, you’ll become their prey!
8 Because you plundered many nations,
    all of their remnants will plunder you.
Human blood has been shed,
    and violence has been done to the land,
        to the city, and to all who live in it.”

Judgment on Those who Think They are Safe

9 “Woe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit
    in order to establish his household,
so he can establish a secure place on the heights
    and escape from the power of evil.
10 You have brought shame to yourself by killing many people—
    you are forfeiting your own life.
11 Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall
    and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.”

Judgment on the Lawless

12 “Woe to the one who founds a city upon bloodshed,
    and constructs a city by lawlessness.
13 Is it not because of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
    that people grow tired putting out fires,
        and nations weary themselves over nothing?
14 Indeed, the earth will be filled
    with knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
        as water fills the sea.”

Judgment on the Violent

15 “Woe to the one who supplies his neighbor with a drink!
    You are forcing your bottle on him,
        making him drunk so you can see them naked.
16 You are filled with dishonor instead of glory.
    So go ahead, drink and be naked!
    The Lord will turn against you,
    and utter disgrace will debase your reputation.
17 Indeed, the violence done to Lebanon will overtake you,
    and the destruction of the beasts will terrorize you—
because you shed human blood
    and did violence to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it.”

Judgment on the Idol Maker

18 “Where is the benefit in owning a carved image,
    that motivates its maker to carve it?
It is only a cast image—
    a teacher that lies—
because the engraver entrusts himself to his carving,
    crafting speechless idols.
19 “Woe to the one who says to a tree, ‘Wake up!’
    or ‘Arise!’ to a speechless stone.
Idols like this can’t teach, can they?
    Look, even though it is overlaid with gold and silver,
        there’s no breath in it at all.”

The Lord’s Final Counsel to Habakkuk

20 “The Lord is in his holy Temple.
    All the earth—be quiet in his presence.”