Habakkuk 1:12–17

Why Is God Silent Now?

12–13  God, you’re from eternity, aren’t you?

Holy God, we aren’t going to die, are we?

God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work?

Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?

But you can’t be serious!

You can’t condone evil!

So why don’t you do something about this?

Why are you silent now?

This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous

and you stand around and watch!

14–16  You’re treating men and women

as so many fish in the ocean,

Swimming without direction,

swimming but not getting anywhere.

Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing.

He pulls in a good catch.

He catches his limit and fills his creel—

a good day of fishing! He’s happy!

He praises his rod and reel,

piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it!

It’s made his day,

and he’s going to eat well tonight!

17  Are you going to let this go on and on?

Will you let this Babylonian fisherman

Fish like a weekend angler,

killing people as if they’re nothing but fish?