Habakkuk 1 Parallel Bible Translations

Habakkuk 1 ▼
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CSB
Christian Standard Bible
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English Standard Version
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1 The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw. The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
2 How long, LORD, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
3 Why 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. Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. Therefore 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 something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. “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.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying; their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
8 Their 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 eagles, swooping to devour. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. Their 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;
9 All of them come to do violence; their faces are set in determination. They gather prisoners like sand. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings, and rulers are a joke to them. They laugh at every fortress and build siege ramps to capture it. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” Then they sweep past like the wind and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
12 Are you not from eternity, LORD my God? My Holy One, you will not die. LORD, you appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, you destined them to punish us. Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. LORD, 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.
13 Your 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? You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? Your 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?
14 You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The 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. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. The 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.
16 That 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. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy? Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?
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