| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet: | 1The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. |
| 2How long, LORD, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, "Violence!" But you do not intervene! | 2How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? |
| 3Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. | 3Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. |
| 4For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted. | 4Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. |
| 5"Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned. | 5"Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. |
| 6Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them. | 6I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. |
| 7They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right. | 7They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. |
| 8Their horses are faster than leopards and more alert than wolves in the desert. Their horses gallop, their horses come a great distance; like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey. | 8Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; |
| 9All of them intend to do violence; every face is determined. They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand. | 9they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. |
| 10They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps and capture them. | 10They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. |
| 11They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty." | 11Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty people, whose own strength is their god." |
| 12LORD, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. LORD, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment. | 12LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. |
| 13You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are? | 13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? |
| 14You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler. | 14You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. |
| 15The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy. | 15The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. |
| 16Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat. | 16Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. |
| 17Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none? | 17Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? |
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