Habakkuk 2:4-13
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 2
4'Behold, as for the impudent one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous one will live by his faith. 5Furthermore, wine betrays an arrogant man, So that he does not achieve his objective. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all the nations And collects to himself all the peoples. 6'Will all of these not take up a song of ridicule against him, Even a saying and insinuations against him And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his— For how long— And makes himself rich with debts!’ 7Will your creditors not rise up suddenly, And those who collect from you awaken? Indeed, you will become plunder for them. 8Since you have looted many nations, All the rest of the peoples will loot you— Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants. 9'Woe to him who makes evil profit for his household, To put his nest on high, To be saved from the hand of catastrophe! 10You have planned a shameful thing for your house By bringing many peoples to an end; So you are sinning against yourself. 11For the stone will cry out from the wall, And the rafter will answer it from the framework. 12'Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed, And founds a town with violence! 13Is it not indeed from the Lord of armies That peoples labor merely for fire, And nations become weary for nothing?King James Version
Chapter 2
4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
11For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
12Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 2
4Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith. 5Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself. 6Won't all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him? They will say, "Woe to him who amasses what is not his -- how much longer? -- and loads himself with goods taken in pledge." 7Won't your creditors suddenly arise, and those who disturb you wake up? Then you will become spoil for them.
8Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you -- because of human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
9Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house to place his nest on high, to escape the grasp of disaster!
10You have planned shame for your house by wiping out many peoples and sinning against your own self.
11For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will answer them from the woodwork.
12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice!
13Is it not from the Lord of Armies that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
New Living Translation
Chapter 2
4'Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. 5Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
6'But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’
7Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
8Because you have plundered many nations, now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.
9'What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.
10But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.
11The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
4“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. 5“Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.” 6Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”
7Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them.
8Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.
9“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!
10You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.
11For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.
12“Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!
13Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing?
New International Version
Chapter 2
4See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness -- 5indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.
6Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, ''Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?'
7Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.
8Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
9Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!
10You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.
11The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!
13Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
