Habakkuk, chapter 1
Habakkuk's Conversations with God
Habakkuk complains to the Lord about the violence and injustice within his own nation of Judah. He does not understand why the Lord is so slow to deal with this evil. God surprises Habakkuk by saying that the armies of Babylon will bring an end to the evil in Judah. Then Habakkuk complains that Judah's sin are less serious than the sins of the Babylonians. Habakkuk is reminded that one day in the future God will punish the proud, including Babylon, and accept all people who live by faith (2.4).
am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the Lord gave me.
Habakkuk Complains to the Lord
2Our Lord, how long must I beg for your help
before you listen?
How long before you save us from all this violence?
3Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice?
Why do you allow violence, lawlessness,
crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?
4Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser;
criminals crowd out honest people
and twist the laws around.
The Lord Answers Habakkuk
5 Look and be amazed at what's happening
among the nations!
Even if you were told, you would never believe
what's taking place now.
6 I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel—
marching across the land, conquering cities and towns.
7How fearsome and frightening.
Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up.
8Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards,
more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset,
and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down.
9They are eager to destroy,
and they gather captives like handfuls of sand.
10They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses,
while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities.
11Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind—
those sinful people who worship their own strength.
Habakkuk Complains Again
12Holy Lord God, mighty rock, you are eternal,
and we are safe from death.
You are using those Babylonians
to judge and punish others.
13But you can't stand sin or wrong.
So don't sit by in silence while they gobble up people
who are better than they are.
14The people you put on this earth
are like fish or reptiles without a leader.
15Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive
with hooks and nets.
It makes him so happy 16that he offers sacrifices
to his fishing nets, because they make him rich
and provide choice foods.
17Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations
without showing mercy?