Habakkuk Waits for God’s Response
God’s Second Answer
2 The Lord answered me:
3
3
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.(D)
4
5
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.(D)
The Five Woe Oracles
6
Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say:
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say:
Woe to him who amasses what is not his—
how much longer?—
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.(G)
7 how much longer?—
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.(G)
Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,
and those who disturb you wake up?
Then you will become spoil for them.(H)
8 and those who disturb you wake up?
Then you will become spoil for them.(H)
Since you have plundered many nations,
all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
because of human bloodshed
and violence against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.(I)
all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
because of human bloodshed
and violence against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.(I)
9
10
You have planned shame for your house
by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
11 by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
12
13
Is it not from the Lord of Hosts
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?(M)
14 that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?(M)
15
Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink,
pouring out your wrath(h)
and even making them drunk,
in order to look at their nakedness!
16
17 pouring out your wrath(h)
and even making them drunk,
in order to look at their nakedness!
For your violence against Lebanon
will overwhelm you;
the destruction of animals will terrify you(j)
because of your human bloodshed and violence
against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
will overwhelm you;
the destruction of animals will terrify you(j)
because of your human bloodshed and violence
against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
18
What use is a carved idol
after its craftsman carves it?
It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies.
For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it
and makes idols that cannot speak.
19 after its craftsman carves it?
It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies.
For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it
and makes idols that cannot speak.
Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up!
or to mute stone: Come alive!
Can it teach?
Look! It may be plated with gold and silver,
yet there is no breath in it at all.
or to mute stone: Come alive!
Can it teach?
Look! It may be plated with gold and silver,
yet there is no breath in it at all.
Footnotes:
a.
Habakkuk 2:1: Syr reads what He will
b.
Habakkuk 2:2: Lit one who reads in it may run
c.
Habakkuk 2:4: Hb obscure
d.
Habakkuk 2:4: Or faithfulness
e.
Habakkuk 2:5: DSS read wealth
f.
Habakkuk 2:5: Or man does not endure; Hb obscure
g.
Habakkuk 2:9: Or dynasty
h.
Habakkuk 2:15: Or venom
i.
Habakkuk 2:16: DSS, LXX, Aq, Syr, Vg read and stagger
j.
Habakkuk 2:17: DSS, LXX, Aq, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads them