VerseAI

NIV

Habakkuk 2

  1. 1<pb/><t>I will stand at my watch</t> <t>and station myself on the ramparts;</t> <t>I will look to see what he will say to me,</t> <t>and what answer I am to give to this complaint.<f>[4]</f></t>
  2. 2<pb/>Then the LORD replied: <pb/><t>“Write down the revelation</t> <t>and make it plain on tablets</t> <t>so that a herald<f>[5]</f> may run with it.</t>
  3. 3<t>For the revelation awaits an appointed time;</t> <t>it speaks of the end</t> <t>and will not prove false.</t> <t>Though it linger, wait for it;</t> <t>it<f>[6]</f> will certainly come</t> <t>and will not delay. <pb/></t>
  4. 4<t>“See, the enemy is puffed up;</t> <t>his desires are not upright—</t> <t>but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness<f>[7]</f>—</t>
  5. 5<t>indeed, wine betrays him;</t> <t>he is arrogant and never at rest.</t> <t>Because he is as greedy as the grave</t> <t>and like death is never satisfied,</t> <t>he gathers to himself all the nations</t> <t>and takes captive all the peoples.</t>
  6. 6<pb/>“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, <pb/><t>“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods</t> <t>and makes himself wealthy by extortion!</t> <t>How long must this go on?’</t>
  7. 7<t>Will not your creditors suddenly arise?</t> <t>Will they not wake up and make you tremble?</t> <t>Then you will become their prey.</t>
  8. 8<t>Because you have plundered many nations,</t> <t>the peoples who are left will plunder you.</t> <t>For you have shed human blood;</t> <t>you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. <pb/></t>
  9. 9<t>“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,</t> <t>setting his nest on high</t> <t>to escape the clutches of ruin!</t>
  10. 10<t>You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,</t> <t>shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.</t>
  11. 11<t>The stones of the wall will cry out,</t> <t>and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. <pb/></t>
  12. 12<t>“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed</t> <t>and establishes a town by injustice!</t>
  13. 13<t>Has not the LORD Almighty determined</t> <t>that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,</t> <t>that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?</t>
  14. 14<t>For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD</t> <t>as the waters cover the sea. <pb/></t>
  15. 15<t>“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,</t> <t>pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,</t> <t>so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!</t>
  16. 16<t>You will be filled with shame instead of glory.</t> <t>Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed<f>[8]</f>!</t> <t>The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you,</t> <t>and disgrace will cover your glory.</t>
  17. 17<t>The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,</t> <t>and your destruction of animals will terrify you.</t> <t>For you have shed human blood;</t> <t>you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. <pb/></t>
  18. 18<t>“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?</t> <t>Or an image that teaches lies?</t> <t>For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;</t> <t>he makes idols that cannot speak.</t>
  19. 19<t>Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’</t> <t>Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’</t> <t>Can it give guidance?</t> <t>It is covered with gold and silver;</t> <t>there is no breath in it.” <pb/></t>
  20. 20<t>The LORD is in his holy temple;</t> <t>let all the earth be silent before him.</t>