Parallel Verses
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?
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]?
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?
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?
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 Woe to him that builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity! 13 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? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Cross References
Isaiah 50:11
Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that encircle yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.
Jeremiah 51:58
Thus says the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labor in vain, and the nations, because of the fire, and they shall be weary.
Genesis 11:6-9
And the LORD said, Behold, the people are one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
2 Samuel 15:31
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
Job 5:13-14
He takes the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the cunning is quickly ended.
Psalm 39:6
Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are in turmoil in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.
Psalm 127:1-2
[A song of ascents. Of Solomon.] Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain that build it: unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchman wakes, but in vain.
Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Isaiah 41:5-8
The coastlands saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
Jeremiah 51:64
And you shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
Malachi 1:4
If Edom says, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus says the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD has indignation forever.