Habakkuk 1:12–2:1

HABAKKUK’S SECOND PRAYER

¹²Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?^aa

My Holy One,^ab you^G will not die.

Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;

my Rock,^ac you destined them to punish us.

¹³Your eyes^ad are too pure^ae to look on evil,

and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?^af

Why are you silent

while one^A who is wicked swallows up

one^B who is more righteous than himself?

¹⁴You have made mankind

like the fish of the sea,^ag

like marine creatures that have no ruler.

¹⁵The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,

catch them in their dragnet,^ah

and gather them in their fishing net;

that is why they are glad and rejoice.

¹⁶That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet

and burn incense to their fishing net,

for by these things their portion is rich

and their food plentiful.^ai

¹⁷Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?

HABAKKUK WAITS FOR GOD’S RESPONSE

2I will stand at my guard post

and station myself on the lookout tower.^a

I will watch to see what he will say to me^b

and what I should^C reply about my complaint.