1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to Thee, "Violence!" Yet Thou dost not save.

3 Why dost Thou make me see iniquity, And cause [me] to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.

4 Therefore, the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice comes out perverted.

5 "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because [I] am doing something in your days – You would not believe if you were told.

6 "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

7 "They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate with themselves.

8 "Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from afar; They fly like an eagle swooping [down] to devour.

9 "All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces [moves] forward. They collect captives like sand.

10 "They mock at kings, And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress, And heap up rubble to capture it.

11 "Then they will sweep through [like] the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god."

12 Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. Thou, O Lord, hast appointed them to judge; And Thou, O Rock, hast established them to correct.

13 [Thine] eyes are too pure to approve evil, And Thou canst not look on wickedness [with favor.] Why dost Thou look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why art Thou silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?

14 [Why] hast Thou made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them?

15 [The Chaldeans] bring all of them up with a hook, Drag them away with their net, And gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore, they rejoice and are glad.

16 Therefore, they offer a sacrifice to their net. And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.

17 Will they therefore empty their net And continually slay nations without sparing?