The oracle (a burdensome message—a pronouncement from God) which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.

Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;

They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Like as the wine deceiveth the drunkard, even so the proud shall fail and not endure. He openeth his desire wide up as the hell, and is as insatiable as death. All Heathen gathereth he to him, and heapeth unto him all people."

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.

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?

For recognition of the Lord's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea.

Woe to him who is saying to wood, 'Awake,' 'Stir up,' to a dumb stone, It a teacher! lo, it is overlaid -- gold and silver, And there is no spirit in its midst.

He stood up and shook the land; with his stare he startled the nations. The age-old mountains were shattered, and the ancient hilltops bowed down. His ways are eternal.

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.

Thou hast come forth to the salvation of thy people, to salvation, with thine Anointed One, - Thou hast crushed the Head out of the house of the lawless one, baring the foundation up to the neck, Selah.

Thou didst strike through with his scepter, the heads of his plan people: which come as a stormy wind to scatter me abroad, and are glad when they may eat up the poor secretly.

You tread the sea with Your horses,
stirring up the great waters.

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.