Habakkuk 1 Parallel Bible Translations

Habakkuk 1 ▼
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1 This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision: The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but 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 make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds. 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 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is 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 a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you. “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 For 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. 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 dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. 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, 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. 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 bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; 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 scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize 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 own 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 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. 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 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? 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 men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things 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 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. 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 Therefore 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. 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 he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay 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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