| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision: | 1The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. |
| 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, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but 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 make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. |
| 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. | 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that 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 watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. |
| 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. | 6I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. |
| 7They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. | 7They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. |
| 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, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. 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. | 9they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and 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 scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. |
| 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through. They are guilty; their own strength is their god.” | 11Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty people, whose own 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. | 12LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. |
| 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; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? |
| 14You have made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler. | 14You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea 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 wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. |
| 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. | 16Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. |
| 17Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy? | 17Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? |
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