Habakkuk 2:6–12

Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,

“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—

for how long?—

and loads himself with pledges!”

Will not your debtors suddenly arise,

and those awake who will make you tremble?

Then you will be spoil for them.

Because you have plundered many nations,

all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,

for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

to cities and all who dwell in them.

“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,

to set his nest on high,

to be safe from the reach of harm!

You have devised shame for your house

by cutting off many peoples;

you have forfeited your life.

For the stone will cry out from the wall,

and the beam from the woodwork respond.

“Woe to him who builds a town with blood

and founds a city on iniquity!

“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods

and makes himself wealthy by extortion!

How long must this go on?’

Will not your creditors suddenly arise?

Will they not wake up and make you tremble?

Then you will become their prey.

Because you have plundered many nations,

the peoples who are left will plunder you.

For you have shed human blood;

you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,

setting his nest on high

to escape the clutches of ruin!

You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

The stones of the wall will cry out,

and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

and establishes a town by injustice!

“But soon their captives will taunt them.

They will mock them, saying,

‘What sorrow awaits you thieves!

Now you will get what you deserve!

You’ve become rich by extortion,

but how much longer can this go on?’

Suddenly, your debtors will take action.

They will turn on you and take all you have,

while you stand trembling and helpless.

Because you have plundered many nations;

now all the survivors will plunder you.

You committed murder throughout the countryside

and filled the towns with violence.

“What sorrow awaits you who build big houses

with money gained dishonestly!

You believe your wealth will buy security,

putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.

But by the murders you committed,

you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.

The very stones in the walls cry out against you,

and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.

“What sorrow awaits you who build cities

with money gained through murder and corruption!

Shall not all of these take up a taunt against him,

with ridicule and riddles against him, saying,

‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his’?

For how long?

And, ‘Woe to him who makes himself heavy with pledges’?

Will not your creditors suddenly rise up

and awaken those who make you tremble?

Then you shall be as plunder for them.

Because you plundered many nations,

all the remaining nations will plunder you

on account of the blood of humanity

and violence against the land,

and against cities and all who live in them.

Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house,

to set his nest on high,

to be saved from the hand of misfortune!

You have plotted shame for your house,

cutting off many peoples

and sinning against your life.

For the stone will cry out from the wall,

and the plaster from the wood will answer it.

Woe to him who builds a city by bloodguilt,

and who founds a city by wickedness!

Shall not all these take up a parable against him,

And a taunting proverb against him, and say,

Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long?

And to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee,

And awake that shall vex thee,

And thou shalt be for booties unto them?

Because thou hast spoiled many nations,

All the remnant of the people shall spoil thee;

Because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land,

Of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house,

That he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house

By cutting off many people,

And hast sinned against thy soul.

For the stone shall cry out of the wall,

And the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood,

And stablisheth a city by iniquity!