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[1] The burden, which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
[2] O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee for violence, and thou wilt not help!
[3] Why 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.
[4] Therefore the law is dissolved, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous: therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
[5] Behold 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.
[6] For 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.
[7] They are terrible and fearful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
[8] Their 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.
[9] They come all to spoil: before their faces shall be an east wind, and they shall gather the captivity, as the sand.
[10] And they shall mock the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold: for they shall gather dust, and take it.
[11] Then shall they take a courage, and transgress and do wickedly, imputing this their power unto their god.
[12] Art thou not 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.
[13] Thou 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?
[14] And makest men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them.
[15] They take up all with the angle: they catch it in their net, and gather it in their yarn, whereof they rejoice and are glad.
[16] Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their yarn, because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous.
[17] Shall they therefore stretch out their net and not spare continually to slay the nations?
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