Parallel Verses
Bible in Basic English
See, is it not the pleasure of the Lord of armies that the peoples are working for the fire and using themselves up for nothing?
New American Standard Bible
That peoples
And nations grow weary for nothing?
King James Version
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Holman Bible
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
International Standard Version
Is it not because of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies that people grow tired putting out fires, and nations weary themselves over nothing?
A Conservative Version
Behold, is it not of LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
American Standard Version
Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
Amplified
“Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts
That peoples labor [only] for the fire [that will destroy their work],
And nations grow weary for nothing [that is, things which have no lasting value]?
Darby Translation
Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?
Julia Smith Translation
Behold, is it not from Jehovah of armies, and the peoples shall labor in a sufficiency of fire, and the peoples shall be wearied in a sufficiency of emptiness?
King James 2000
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor to feed the fire, and the people shall weary themselves in vain?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Look! [Is it] not from Yahweh of hosts that people labor for mere fire, and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?
Modern King James verseion
Behold, is it not for Jehovah of Hosts that the people labor only for fire; yea, the nations weary themselves only for vanity?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Shall not the LORD of Hosts bring this to pass, that the laborers of the people shall be burnt with a great fire, and that the thing whereupon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost?
NET Bible
Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations' efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing.
New Heart English Bible
Behold, isn't it of the LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
The Emphasized Bible
Lo! is it not from Yahweh of hosts - that peoples labour for fire, and, populations, for emptiness, weary themselves?
Webster
Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
World English Bible
Behold, isn't it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
Youngs Literal Translation
Lo, is it not from Jehovah of Hosts And peoples are fatigued for fire, And nations for vanity are weary?
Themes
Glory » Whose glory becomes shame
Iniquity » Those that build a city with iniquity
Labour » fields of activity » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Profit » Those that profit from violence
Shame » Whose glory becomes shame
Toil » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Word Count of 20 Translations in Habakkuk 2:13
Verse Info
Context Readings
Doom On The Unrighteous
12 A curse on him who is building a place with blood, and basing a town on evil-doing! 13 See, is it not the pleasure of the Lord of armies that the peoples are working for the fire and using themselves up for nothing? 14 For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the sea is covered by the waters.
Cross References
Isaiah 50:11
See, all you who make a fire, arming yourselves with burning branches: go in the flame of your fire, and among the branches you have put a light to. This will you have from my hand, you will make your bed in sorrow.
Jeremiah 51:58
The Lord of armies has said: The wide walls of Babylon will be completely uncovered and her high doorways will be burned with fire; so peoples keep on working for nothing, and the weariness of nations comes to an end in the smoke.
Genesis 11:6-9
And the Lord said, See, they are all one people and have all one language; and this is only the start of what they may do: and now it will not be possible to keep them from any purpose of theirs.
2 Samuel 15:31
And word came to David, saying, Ahithophel is among those who are joined to Absalom. And David said, O Lord, let the wisdom of Ahithophel be made foolish.
Job 5:13-14
He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.
Psalm 39:6
Truly, every man goes on his way like an image; he is troubled for no purpose: he makes a great store of wealth, and has no knowledge of who will get it.
Psalm 127:1-2
If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.
Proverbs 21:30
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
Isaiah 41:5-8
The sea-lands saw it, and were in fear; the ends of the earth were shaking: they came near.
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you give your money for what is not bread, and the fruit of your work for what will not give you pleasure? Give ear to me, so that your food may be good, and you may have the best in full measure.
Jeremiah 51:64
And you are to say, So Babylon will go down, never to be lifted up again, because of the evil which I will send on her: and weariness will overcome them. So far, these are the words of Jeremiah.
Malachi 1:4
Though Edom says, We are crushed down but we will come back, building up the waste places; this is what the Lord of armies has said: They may put up buildings, but I will have them pulled down; and they will be named The land of evil-doing, and The people against whom the Lord keeps his wrath for ever.