^{1 Ref} The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

^{2 Ref} O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save.

^{3 Ref} Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.

^{4 Ref} Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.

^{5 Ref} Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.

^{6 Ref} For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.

^{7 Ref} They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

^{8 Ref} Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.

^{9 Ref} They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.

^{10 Ref} Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.

^{11 Ref} Then shall he sweep by `as' a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, `even' he whose might is his god.

^{12 Ref} Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction.

^{13 Ref} Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;

^{14 Ref} and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

^{15 Ref} He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.

^{16 Ref} Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.

^{17 Ref} Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?

^{1 Ref} The burden that Habakkuk the prophet hath seen:

^{2 Ref} Till when, O Jehovah, have I cried, And Thou dost not hear? I cry unto Thee -- `Violence,' and Thou dost not save.

^{3 Ref} Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, And perversity dost cause to behold? And spoiling and violence `are' before me, And there is strife, and contention doth lift `itself' up,

^{4 Ref} Therefore doth law cease, And judgment doth not go forth for ever, For the wicked is compassing the righteous, Therefore wrong judgment goeth forth.

^{5 Ref} Look ye on nations, and behold and marvel greatly. For a work He is working in your days, Ye do not believe though it is declared.

^{6 Ref} For, lo, I am raising up the Chaldeans, The bitter and hasty nation, That is going to the broad places of earth, To occupy tabernacles not its own.

^{7 Ref} Terrible and fearful it `is', From itself its judgment and its excellency go forth.

^{8 Ref} Swifter than leopards have been its horses, And sharper than evening wolves, And increased have its horsemen, Even its horsemen from afar come in, They fly as an eagle, hasting to consume.

^{9 Ref} Wholly for violence it doth come in, Their faces swallowing up the east wind, And it doth gather as the sand a captivity.

^{10 Ref} And at kings it doth scoff, And princes `are' a laughter to it, At every fenced place it doth laugh, And it heapeth up dust, and captureth it.

^{11 Ref} Then passed on hath the spirit, Yea, he doth transgress, And doth ascribe this his power to his god.

^{12 Ref} Art not Thou of old, O Jehovah, my God, my Holy One? We do not die, O Jehovah, For judgment Thou hast appointed it, And, O Rock, for reproof Thou hast founded it.

^{13 Ref} Purer of eyes than to behold evil, To look on perverseness Thou art not able, Why dost Thou behold the treacherous? Thou keepest silent when the wicked Doth swallow the more righteous than he,

^{14 Ref} And Thou makest man as fishes of the sea, As a creeping thing -- none ruling over him.

^{15 Ref} Each of them with a hook he hath brought up, He doth catch it in his net, and gathereth it in his drag, Therefore he doth joy and rejoice.

^{16 Ref} Therefore he doth sacrifice to his net, And doth make perfume to his drag, For by them `is' his portion fertile, and his food fat.

^{17 Ref} Doth he therefore empty his net, And continually to slay nations spare not?