Habakkuk 2:2–5

And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

If it seems slow, wait for it;

it will surely come; it will not delay.

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

but the righteous shall live by his faith.

“Moreover, wine is a traitor,

an arrogant man who is never at rest.

His greed is as wide as Sheol;

like death he has never enough.

He gathers for himself all nations

and collects as his own all peoples.”

Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come

and will not delay.

“See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—

indeed, wine betrays him;

he is arrogant and never at rest.

Because he is as greedy as the grave

and like death is never satisfied,

he gathers to himself all the nations

and takes captive all the peoples.

Then the Lord said to me,

“Write my answer plainly on tablets,

so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.

This vision is for a future time.

It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,

for it will surely take place.

It will not be delayed.

“Look at the proud!

They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.

But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Wealth is treacherous,

and the arrogant are never at rest.

They open their mouths as wide as the grave,

and like death, they are never satisfied.

In their greed they have gathered up many nations

and swallowed many peoples.

Then Yahweh answered me and said,

“Write the vision and make it plain on the tablet

so that it might be read quickly.

For there is yet a vision for the appointed time;

it will give witness to the end, and it will not lie.

If it tarries, wait for it,

for it will surely come and not delay.

Look! His spirit within him is puffed up;

it is not upright.

But the righteous shall live by his faithfulness.

How much less the defiant;

the arrogant, treacherous man?

He who broadens his throat like Sheol,

and who, like death, is not satisfied,

and who gathers to himself all the nations,

and harvested for himself all the peoples,

will not succeed.

And the Lord answered me, and said,

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables,

That he may run that readeth it.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

But at the end it shall speak, and not lie:

Though it tarry, wait for it;

Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:

But the just shall live by his faith.

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine,

He is a proud man, neither keepeth at home,

Who enlargeth his desire as hell,

And is as death, and cannot be satisfied,

But gathereth unto him all nations,

And heapeth unto him all people: