1 The burden that Habacuc the Prophet saw.
1 The burden that Habacuc the prophet saw.
2 How long o Lord shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? Shall I cry out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save?
2 How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? Shall I cry out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save?
3 Why hast thou shewed me iniquity and labour, to see prey and injustice against me? And judgement is made, and contradiction more mighty.
3 Why hast thou shown me iniquity and grievance, to see rapine and injustice before me? And there is a judgment, but opposition is more powerful.
4 For this cause is the law torn, and judgement came not to the end: because the impious prevaileth against the just, therefore doth there come forth perverse judgement.
4 Therefore the law is torn in pieces, and judgment cometh not to the end: because the wicked prevaileth against the just, therefore wrong judgment goeth forth.
5 Behold ye in the nations, and see: marvel, and be astonished: because a work is done in your days, which no man will believe when it shall be told.
5 ¹Behold ye among the nations, and see: wonder, and be astonished: for a work is done in your days, which no man will believe when it shall be told.
6 Because lo I will raise up the Chaldees, a bitter and swift nation, walking upon the latitude of the earth, to possess tabernacles not their own.
6 For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift nation, marching upon the breadth of the earth, to possess the dwelling places that are not their own.
7 It is horrible, & terrible: out of itself shall the judgement, & the burden thereof proceed.
7 They are dreadful, and terrible: from themselves shall their judgment, and their burden proceed.
8 His horses lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening wolves; and his horsemen shall be spread abroad, for his horsemen shall come from a far, they shall fly as an eagle hastening to eat.
8 Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to eat.
9 All shall come to the prey, their faces a burning wind: and he shall gather together as the sand, captivity.
9 They shall all come to the prey, their face is like a burning wind: and they shall gather together captives as the sand.
10 And he shall triumph over kings, and tyrants shall be his laughing stock, and he shall laugh upon every munition, and shall cast up a mount, and shall take it.
10 And their prince shall triumph over kings, and princes shall be his laughingstock: and he shall laugh at every stronghold, and shall cast up a mount, and shall take it.
11 Then shall the spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: this is his strength of his god.
11 Then shall his spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: this is his strength of his god.
12 Why wast thou not from the beginning o Lord my God, my holy one, & we shall not die? Lord thou hast appointed him for judgement: and strong to chastise, thou hast founded him.
12 Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made him strong for correction.
13 Thine eyes are clean, from seeing evil, and thou canst not look toward iniquity. Why lookest thou not upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the impious devoureth him that is more just than himself?
13 Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself?
14 And thou wilt make them as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping beast not having a prince.
14 And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler.
15 He lifted up all in the hook, he drew it in his train, and gathered it into his net: upon this he will be glad and rejoice.
15 He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice.
16 Therefore will he immolate to his train, and he will sacrifice to his net: because by them his portion is fat, & his meat chosen.
16 Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty.
17 For this cause therefore spreadeth he his train, and always to kill the nations he will not spare.
17 For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations.