| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision: | 1The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. |
| 2How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? | 2How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? |
| 3Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. | 3Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. |
| 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. | 4This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. |
| 5“Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you. | 5Look at the nations and observe-- be utterly astounded! For something is taking place in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it. |
| 6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. | 6Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth's open spaces to seize territories not its own. |
| 7They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. | 7They are fierce and terrifying; their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves. |
| 8Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. | 8Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead; their horsemen come from distant lands. They fly like an eagle, swooping to devour. |
| 9All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. | 9All of them come to do violence; their faces are set in determination. They gather prisoners like sand. |
| 10They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. | 10They mock kings, and rulers are a joke to them. They laugh at every fortress and build siege ramps to capture it. |
| 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.” | 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god. |
| 12Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, You have established them for correction. | 12Are You not from eternity, Yahweh my God? My Holy One, You will not die. LORD, You appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, You destined them to punish us. |
| 13Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? | 13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself? |
| 14You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. | 14You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. |
| 15The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly. | 15The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook, catch them in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net; that is why they are glad and rejoice. |
| 16Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich. | 16That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet and burn incense to their fishing net, for by these things their portion is rich and their food plentiful. |
| 17Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy? | 17Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy? |
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