Habakkuk 2

1I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will speak in me, and what I should answer concerning my complaint.

2Then Yahweh answered me and said: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that one who reads it may run.”

3For the vision is still for the appointed time; it hastens toward the end and will not lie. If it delays, wait for it, for it will surely come; it will not be late.

4Look: his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous will live by his faithfulness.

5Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man does not remain at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death and is never satisfied. He gathers to himself all the nations and collects to himself all the peoples.

6Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his—how long?—and loads himself with pledged goods!”

7Will not your creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble awake? Then you will become plunder for them.

8Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you—because of human blood and violence done to the land, to the city, and to all who dwell in it.

9Woe to him who gains evil profit for his house, to set his nest on high, to escape from the grasp of harm.

10You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your own life.

11For a stone will cry out from the wall, and a beam from the woodwork will answer it.

12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice.

13Is it not indeed from Yahweh of hosts that peoples labor for fire, and nations weary themselves for emptiness?

14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

15Woe to him who makes his neighbor drink, pouring out your wrath and even making him drunk, in order to look on their nakedness.

16You have had your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink, you also, and show your uncircumcision! The cup from the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will be upon your glory.

17For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, and the destruction of beasts will terrify you, because of the blood of man and the violence done to the land, to the city, and to all who dwell in it.

18What profit is an idol when its maker has carved it— a cast image and a teacher of lies? For the one who formed it trusts in it, making mute idols.

19Woe to the one who says to wood, “Wake up!” and to silent stone, “Arise!” Can it teach? Look— it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath at all within it.

20But Yahweh is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.