Habakkuk 2:6–11

6 “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?’

7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise?

Will they not wake up and make you tremble?

Then you will become their prey.

8 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.

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

setting his nest on high

to escape the clutches of ruin!

10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11 The stones of the wall will cry out,

and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

6 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!

7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee,

And awake that shall vex thee,

And thou shalt be for booties unto them?

8 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.

9 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!

10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house

By cutting off many people,

And hast sinned against thy soul.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall,

And the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

6 “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?’

7 Suddenly, your debtors will take action.

They will turn on you and take all you have,

while you stand trembling and helpless.

8 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.

9 “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.

10 But by the murders you committed,

you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.

11 The very stones in the walls cry out against you,

and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.

6 “Will not all these take up a proverb against him,

And a taunting riddle against him, and say,

‘Woe to him who increases

What is not his—how long?

And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?

7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?

Will they not awaken who oppress you?

And you will become their booty.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,

Because of men’s blood

And the violence of the land and the city,

And of all who dwell in it.

9 “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,

That he may set his nest on high,

That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!

10 You give shameful counsel to your house,

Cutting off many peoples,

And sin against your soul.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,

And the beam from the timbers will answer it.

6 But all the nations the Babylonians have hurt will laugh at them.

They will make fun of the Babylonians

and say, ‘How terrible it will be for the one that steals many things.

How long will that nation get rich by forcing others to pay them?’

7 “One day the people from whom you have taken money will turn against you.

They will realize what is happening and make you shake with fear.

Then they will take everything you have.

8 Because you have stolen from many nations,

those who are left will take much from you.

This is because you have killed many people,

destroying countries and cities and everyone in them.

9 “How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong,

thinking they will live in a safe place

and escape harm.

10 Because you have made plans to destroy many people,

you have made your own houses ashamed of you.

Because of it, you will lose your lives.

11 The stones of the walls will cry out against you,

and the boards that support the roof will agree that you are wrong.

6 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 that ladeth himself with pledges! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them? 8 Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.

9 Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil! 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

6 Shall not all these take up a proverb about him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? —and to him that loadeth himself with pledges! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and they awake up that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8 Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples shall plunder thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city, and all that dwell therein. 9 Woe to him that getteth iniquitous gain to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the grasp of evil! 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thine own soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

6 Won’t all of them ridicule him, 

directing clever sayings and riddles at him, like: 

“ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes himself rich 

with what is not his own 

and makes himself wealthy on loans. 

How long will this go on?’ 

7 Won’t your creditors suddenly rise up 

and those who are going to shake you wake up? 

Then you will become their prize. 

8 You have looted many nations. 

All the rest of the people will loot you 

because of the slaughter and violence done 

to lands, cities, and all their inhabitants. 

9 “ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who uses violence 

to get things for his own household 

in order to set his nest up high 

and save himself from disaster.’ 

10 You have planned disgrace for your household 

by cutting off many people and forfeiting your own life. 

11 A stone in the wall will cry out. 

A beam in the roof will answer it. 

6 Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,

with mockery and riddles about him?

They will say:

Woe to him who amasses what is not his—

how much longer?—

and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.

7 Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,

and those who disturb you wake up?

Then you will become spoil for them.

8 Since you have plundered many nations,

all the peoples who remain will plunder you—

because of human bloodshed

and violence against lands, cities,

and all who live in them.

9 Woe to him who dishonestly makes

wealth for his house

to place his nest on high,

to escape from the reach of disaster!

10 You have planned shame for your house

by wiping out many peoples

and sinning against your own self.

11 For the stones will cry out from the wall,

and the rafters will answer them

from the woodwork.

6 Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them,

“Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!”

How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge?

7 Will not your own creditors suddenly rise

and those who make you tremble wake up?

Then you will be plunder for them.

8 Because you have plundered many nations,

all who survive of the peoples shall plunder you—

because of human bloodshed and violence to the earth,

to cities and all who live in them.

9 “Alas for you who get evil gain for your house,

setting your nest on high

to be safe from the reach of harm!”

10 You have devised shame for your house

by cutting off many peoples;

you have forfeited your life.

11 The very stones will cry out from the wall,

and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.

6 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’?

7 Will not your creditors suddenly rise up

and awaken those who make you tremble?

Then you shall be as plunder for them.

8 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.

9 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!

10 You have plotted shame for your house,

cutting off many peoples

and sinning against your life.

11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,

and the plaster from the wood will answer it.

6 “Won’t those people laugh at the Babylonians? Won’t they make fun of them? They will say to them,

“ ‘How terrible it will be for you

who pile up stolen goods!

You get rich by cheating others.

How long will that go on?

7 Those who owe you money will suddenly rise up.

You charge them too much interest.

So they will wake up

and make you tremble with fear.

Then they will take away

everything you have.

8 You have robbed many nations.

So the nations that are left will rob you.

You have spilled man’s blood.

You have destroyed lands and cities

and everyone in them.’

9 “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!

They build their kingdom with money

they gained by cheating others.

They have tried to make the kingdom

as secure as possible.

After all, they did not want to be destroyed.

10 They have planned to wipe out many nations.

But they have brought shame on their own kingdom.

So they must pay with their own lives.

11 The stones in the walls of their homes will cry out.

And the wooden beams will echo that cry.

6 “Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him,

Even mockery and insinuations against him

And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—

For how long—

And makes himself rich with loans?’

7 “Will not your creditors rise up suddenly,

And those who collect from you awaken?

Indeed, you will become plunder for them.

8 “Because you have looted many nations,

All the remainder of the peoples will loot you—

Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land,

To the town and all its inhabitants.

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

To put his nest on high,

To be delivered from the hand of calamity!

10 “You have devised a shameful thing for your house

By cutting off many peoples;

So you are sinning against yourself.

11 “Surely the stone will cry out from the wall,

And the rafter will answer it from the framework.