Habakkuk Chapter 1

1The burden, which Habakkuk the Prophet did see.

2O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee for violence, and thou wilt not help!

3Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold sorrow? for spoiling, and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

4Therefore the Law is dissolved, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous: therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

5Behold among the heathen, and regard, and wonder, and marvel: for I will work a work in your days: ye will not believe it, though it be told you.

6For lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, which shall go upon the breadth of the land to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.

7They are terrible and fearful: their judgment, and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the wolves in the evening: and their horsemen are many: and their horsemen shall come from far: they shall fly as the eagle hasting to meat.

9They come all to spoil: for their faces shall be an East wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10And they shall mock the Kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every stronghold: for they shall gather dust, and take it.

11Then shall they take a courage, and transgress and do wickedly, imputing this their power unto their god.

12Art not thou of old, O Lord my God, mine holy One? we shall not die: O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment, and O God, thou hast established them for correction.

13Thou art of pure eyes, and canst not see evil: thou canst not behold wickedness: wherefore dost thou look upon the transgressors, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked devoureth the man, that is more righteous than he?

14And makest men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

15They take up all with the angle: they catch it in their net, and gather it in their yarn, whereof they rejoice and are glad.

16Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their yarn, because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

17Shall they therefore stretch out their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?