1 The
burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2 O
LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto
thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 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. 4 Therefore
the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth
compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 5 Behold
ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work
a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 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 their's. 7 They
are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed
of themselves. 8 Their
horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the
evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their
horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth
to eat.
9
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind,
and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10 And
they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them:
they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take
it. 11 Then
shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this
his power unto his god. 12 Art
thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die.
O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast
established them for correction. 13 Thou
art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore
lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when
the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 14 And
makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no
ruler over them? 15 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. 16 Therefore
they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because
by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 17 Shall
they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?