| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision: | 1The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet: |
| 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 cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, "Violence!" But you do not intervene! |
| 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 witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. |
| 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. | 4For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is 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. | 5"Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned. |
| 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 about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them. |
| 7They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. | 7They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right. |
| 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 faster than leopards and more alert than wolves in the desert. Their horses gallop, their horses come a great distance; like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey. |
| 9All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. | 9All of them intend to do violence; every face is determined. They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up 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 laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps and capture them. |
| 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.” | 11They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty." |
| 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. | 12LORD, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. LORD, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment. |
| 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? | 13You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are? |
| 14You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. | 14You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea 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 Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy. |
| 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. | 16Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat. |
| 17Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy? | 17Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none? |
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