Habakkuk 2 — AAB

The LORD Answers Again

2Verse 1I will stand at my guard postand station myself on the ramparts.I will watch to see what He will say to me,and how I should answer when corrected.^{Verse 2}Then the LORD answered me:
“Write down this visionand clearly inscribe it on tablets,
so that a herald may run with it.^{Verse 3}For the vision awaits an appointed time;it testifies of the end and does not lie.Though it lingers, wait for it,since it will surely come and will not delay.^{+Verse 4}Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright⁺—but the righteous will live by faith⁺—^{Verse 5}and wealth⁺indeed betrays him.He is an arrogant man never at rest.He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,and like Death, he is never satisfied.He gathers all the nations to himselfand collects all the peoples as his own.

Woe to the Chaldeans

^{Verse 6}Will not all of these take up a taunt against him,speaking with mockery and derision:
‘Woe to him who amasses what is not hisand makes himself rich with many loans!
How long will this go on?’^{Verse 7}Will not your creditors suddenly ariseand those who disturb you awaken?
Then you will become their prey.^{Verse 8}Because you have plundered many nations,the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against manand your violence against the land, the city,
and all their dwellers.^{Verse 9}Woe to him who builds his houseby unjust gain,to place his nest on highand escape the hand of disaster!^{Verse 10}You have plotted shame for your houseby cutting off many peoples
and forfeiting your life.^{+Verse 11}For the stones will cry out from the wall,and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.^{Verse 12}Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshedand establishes a town by iniquity!^{Verse 13}Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hoststhat the labor of the people only feeds the fire,
and the nations weary themselves in vain?^{Verse 14}For the earth will be filledwith the knowledge of the glory of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.^{Verse 15}Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk,
in order to gaze at their nakedness!^{Verse 16}You will be filled with shame instead of glory.You too must drink
and expose your uncircumcision!⁺The cup in the LORD’s right handwill come around to you,
and utter disgrace will cover your glory.^{Verse 17}For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you,and the destruction of animals will terrify you,because of your bloodshed against menand your violence against the land, the city,
and all their dwellers.^{Verse 18}What use is an idol,that a craftsman should carve it—or an image,a teacher of lies?For its maker trusts in his own creation;he makes idols that cannot speak.^{Verse 19}Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’
Can it give guidance?Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,yet there is no breath in it at all.”^{Verse 20}But the LORD is in His holy temple;let all the earth be silent before Him.