Hab 2 | BSB | STEP | I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me and how I will answer my reproof.

Habakkuk 2

The LORD Answers Again

1 I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me and how I will answer my reproof. 2 Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end, and will not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and not delay. 4 Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright— ^{▼▼LXX If he should draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him} but the righteous will live by his faith— ^{▼▼Or faithfulness} 5 furthermore, wine ^{▼▼MT; DSS wealth} betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Woe to the Chaldeans

6 Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles against him, saying: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’ 7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey . 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you for your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land and city and all their dwellers. 9 Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high [and] escape the hand of disaster! 10 You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and sinning [against] your soul. 11 For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork. 12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity! 13 Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and nations weary themselves in vain? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness! 16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory. 17 For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of the blood of men and violence against lands, cities, and everyone in them . 18 What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— [or] an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awaken!’ or to silent stone, ‘Come alive!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it [is] overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all. 20 But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”