Habakkuk 2
1I will stand upon my watch, 1 and set me upon the matzor (rampart), 1 and will watch to see what Hashem will speak to me, 1 and what He shall answer to my tokhakhah (complaint). 1
2And Hashem answered me, and said: 1 Write the chazon, 1 and make it plain upon tablets, 1 so that a herald may run with it. 1
3For the chazon is yet for a mo'ed (an appointed time); 1 it speaks of HaKetz (the End), and does not lie; 1 though it tarry, wait for him; + 2:3 Moshiach — see Sanhedrin 97b 1 because he will surely come, and will not tarry. 1
4Hinei, his nashamah which is puffed up is not upright in him; 1 but the tzaddik shall live by his emunah. + 2:4 Gn 15:6 1
5Yea also, yayin is a boged (betrayer, treacherous); 1 he is a proud man, never at rest, 1 who enlargeth his appetite as Sheol; 1 like Mavet, it cannot be satisfied, 1 but gathereth unto it kol HaGoyim, 1 and collecteth unto it kol HaAmim; 1
6Shall not all these take up a mashal against such, 1 with mocking poem riddles against him, 1 and say: Hoy (Woe) to him that increaseth that which is not his! 1 For how long? And to him that loadeth himself by the weight of pledges! + 2:6 i.e., heaps up by borrowing 1
7Shall not thy biters (charging neshekh) arise suddenly 1 and awake that shall oppress thee, 1 and thou shalt be for plunder unto them? 1
8Because thou hast plundered many Goyim, 1 all the remnant of the Amim shall plunder thee; 1 because of [shefach] dahm, and for the chamas eretz, 1 the city, and of all that dwell therein. 1
9Hoy (Woe) to him that coveteth an evil gain for his bais, 1 that he may set his ken (nest) on high, 1 that he may be delivered from the power of ruin! 1
10Thy counsel hast brought shame to thy bais 1 by cutting off amim rabbim and hast sinned against thy nashamah. 1
11For the even (stone) shall cry out of the wall, 1 and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 1
12Hoy (Woe) to him that buildeth a town with [shefach] dahm, 1 and foundeth a city by iniquity! 1
13Hinei, is it not from Hashem Tzva'os 1 that the people shall labor only to feed the eish, 1 and the people shall weary themselves in vain? 1
14For the earth shall be filled with the da'as of the kavod Hashem, 1 as the waters cover the yam. 1
15Hoy (Woe) unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, 1 pressing thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, 1 that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 1
16Thou art filled with shame instead of kavod; 1 drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered; 1 the kos of Hashemʼs right hand shall be turned against thee, 1 and utter shame shall be on thy kavod. 1
17For the chamas of the Levanon shall cover thee, 1 and the decimation of animals, by which you terrorized them, 1 because of [shefach] dahm, and for the chamas eretz, 1 and to the city, and all that dwell therein. 1
18What profiteth the pesel (graven image) 1 that the maker thereof hath shaped it; 1 the molten image, and moreh sheker, 1 that the maker of his work trusteth therein, 1 to make dumb elilim (idols)? 1
19Hoy (woe) unto him that saith to the wood: Awake; 1 to the dumb even (stone): Arise, it shall teach! 1 Hinei, it is laid over with zahav and kesef, 1 and there is no ruach at all in it. 1
20But Hashem is in His Heikhal Kodesh; 1 let kol ha'aretz keep silence before Him.