Chapter 1

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.¹

O LORD, how long shall I cry,¹⁴ and thou wilt not hear!⁴ [even] cry out⁴ unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!⁵⁵

Why dost thou shew⁵⁵ me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold⁵⁵ grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up⁴ strife and contention.

Therefore the law is slacked,⁴ and judgment doth never ⁵³³¹ go forth:⁴ for the wicked doth compass⁵⁶ about the righteous; therefore wrong³⁰ judgment proceedeth.⁴

Behold³ ye among the heathen, and regard,⁵⁴ and wonder¹⁰⁰ marvellously:³ for [I] will work⁶ a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe,⁵⁵ though it be told²⁹ [you].

For, lo, I raise up⁵⁶ the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty¹² nation, which shall march⁶ through the breadth of the land, to possess² the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs.

They [are] terrible and dreadful:¹² their judgment and their dignity shall proceed⁴ of themselves.

Their horses also are swifter¹ than the leopards, and are more fierce¹ than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread¹ themselves, and their horsemen shall come⁴ from far; they shall fly⁴ as the eagle [that] hasteth¹ to eat.²

They shall come⁴ all for violence: their faces shall sup up [as] the east wind, and they shall gather⁴ the captivity as the sand.

And they shall scoff¹⁰¹ at the kings, and the princes⁶ shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride⁴ every strong hold; for they shall heap⁴ dust, and take⁴ it.

Then shall [his] mind change,¹ and he shall pass over,⁴ and offend,¹ [imputing] this his power unto his god.

[Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die.⁴ O LORD, thou hast ordained¹ them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established¹ them for correction.⁵³

[Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold² evil, and canst⁴ not look⁵³ on iniquity: wherefore lookest⁵⁵ thou upon them that deal treacherously,⁶ [and] holdest thy tongue⁵⁵ when the wicked devoureth¹⁵ [the man that is] more righteous than he?

And makest⁴ men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, [that have] no ruler⁶ over them?

They take up⁵² all of them with the angle, they catch⁴ them in their net, and gather⁴ them in their drag: therefore they rejoice⁴ and are glad.⁴

Therefore they sacrifice¹⁷ unto their net, and burn incense¹⁷ unto their drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous.

Shall they therefore empty⁵⁵ their net, and not spare⁴ continually to slay² the nations?