[1] The word which Habakkuk the prophet saw. [2] How long, O Lord, will
your ears be shut to my voice? I make an outcry to you about violent
behaviour, but you do not send salvation. [3] Why do you make me see
evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent
acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument. [4] For this
reason the law is feeble and decisions are not effected: for the upright
man is circled round by evil-doers; because of which right is twisted. [5]
See among the nations, and take note, and be full of wonder: for in your
days I am doing a work in which you will have no belief, even if news of it
is given to you. [6] For see, I am sending the Chaldaeans, that bitter and
quick-moving nation; who go through the wide spaces of the earth to get for
themselves living-places which are not theirs. [7] They are greatly to be
feared: their right comes from themselves. [8] And their horses are quicker
than leopards and their horsemen more cruel than evening wolves; they come
from far away, like an eagle in flight rushing on its food. [9] They are
coming all of them with force; the direction of their faces is forward, the
number of their prisoners is like the sands of the sea. [10] He makes
little of kings, rulers are a sport to him; all the strong places are to be
laughed at; for he makes earthworks and takes them. [11] Then his purpose
will be changed, over-stepping the limit; he will make his strength his
god. [12] Are you not eternal, O Lord my God, my Holy One? for you there is
no death. O Lord, he has been ordered by you for our punishment; and by
you, O Rock, he has been marked out to put us right. [13] Before your holy
eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why,
then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer
puts an end to one who is more upright than himself? [14] He has made men
like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.
[15] He takes them all up with his hook, he takes them in his net, getting
them together in his fishing-net: for which cause he is glad and full of
joy. [16] For this reason he makes an offering to his net, burning perfume
to his fishing-net; because by them he gets much food and his meat is fat.
[17] For this cause his net is ever open, and there is no end to his
destruction of the nations.
