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