Habakkuk 2:6-20 - The Five Woe Oracles

⁶ "Will not all of these ridicule him with mocking scorn? They will say, "Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn't his. How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?' ⁷ Won't your creditors revolt unexpectedly? Won't those who make you tremble wake up? As a result, you'll become their prey! ⁸ Because you plundered many nations, all of their remnants will plunder you. Human blood has been shed, and violence has been done to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it."

⁹ "Woe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit in order to establish his household, so he can establish a secure place on the heights and escape from the power of evil. ¹⁰ You have brought shame to yourself by killing many people you are forfeiting your own life. ¹¹ Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall and the rafter will respond from the woodwork."

¹² "Woe to the one who founds a city upon bloodshed, and constructs a city by lawlessness. ¹³ Is it not because of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies that people grow tired putting out fires, and nations weary themselves over nothing? ¹⁴ Indeed, the earth will be filled with knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as water fills the sea."

¹⁵ "Woe to the one who supplies his neighbor with a drink! You are forcing your bottle on him, making him drunk so you can see them naked. ¹⁶ You are filled with dishonor instead of glory. So go ahead, drink and be naked! The LORD will turn against you, and utter disgrace will debase your reputation. ¹⁷ Indeed, the violence done to Lebanon will overtake you, and the destruction of the beasts will terrorize you because you shed human blood and did violence to the land, to the city, and to all who live in it."

¹⁸ "Where is the benefit in owning a carved image, that motivates its maker to carve it? It is only a cast image a teacher that lies because the engraver entrusts himself to his carving, crafting speechless idols. ¹⁹ "Woe to the one who says to a tree, "Wake up!' or "Arise!' to a speechless stone. Idols like this can't teach, can they? Look, even though it is overlaid with gold and silver, there's no breath in it at all."

²⁰ "The LORD is in his holy Temple. All the earth be quiet in his presence."