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