Habakkuk 2:2–6

2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

3 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.

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—

5 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.

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?’

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it.

3 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.

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

but the righteous shall live by his faith.

5 “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.”

6 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!”

2 And the Lord answered me, and said,

Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables,

That he may run that readeth it.

3 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.

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

But the just shall live by his faith.

5 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:

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!

2 Then the Lord said to me,

“Write my answer plainly on tablets,

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

3 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.

4 “Look at the proud!

They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.

But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

5 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.

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?’

2 The Lord answered me:

“Write down the vision;

write it clearly on clay tablets

so whoever reads it can run to tell others.

3 It is not yet time for the message to come true,

but that time is coming soon;

the message will come true.

It may seem like a long time,

but be patient and wait for it,

because it will surely come;

it will not be delayed.

4 The evil nation is very proud of itself;

it is not living as it should.

But those who are right with God will live by faith.

5 “Just as wine can trick a person,

those who are too proud will not last,

because their desire is like a grave’s desire for death,

and like death they always want more.

They gather other nations for themselves

and collect for themselves all the countries.

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?’

2 And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.

4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith. 5 Yea, moreover, wine is treacherous, a haughty man, that keepeth not at home; who enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples. 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!

2 And Jehovah answered me and said, Write the vision, and engrave it upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but it hasteth to the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright within him: but the just shall live by his faith.

5 And moreover, the wine is treacherous: he is a proud man, and keepeth not at rest, he enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is like death and cannot be satisfied; and he assembleth unto him all nations, and gathereth unto him all peoples. 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!

2 Then the Lord answered me, 

“Write the vision. 

Make it clear on tablets 

so that anyone can read it quickly. 

3 The vision will still happen at the appointed time. 

It hurries toward its goal. 

It won’t be a lie. 

If it’s delayed, wait for it. 

It will certainly happen. 

It won’t be late. 

4 “Look at the proud person. He is not right in himself. 

But the righteous person will live because of his faithfulness.

5 Also because wine is treacherous 

he is arrogant and never rests. 

He has a large appetite like the grave. 

He is like death—never satisfied. 

He gathers all the nations to himself. 

He collects all the people to himself. 

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?’ 

2 The Lord answered me:

Write down this vision;

clearly inscribe it on tablets

so one may easily read it.

3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

it testifies about the end and will not lie.

Though it delays, wait for it,

since it will certainly come and not be late.

4 Look, his ego is inflated;

he is without integrity.

But the righteous one will live by his faith.

5 Moreover, wine betrays;

an arrogant man is never at rest.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

and like Death he is never satisfied.

He gathers all the nations to himself;

he collects all the peoples for himself.

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.

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so that a runner may read it.

3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time;

it speaks of the end and does not lie.

If it seems to tarry, wait for it;

it will surely come; it will not delay.

4 Look at the proud!

Their spirit is not right in them,

but the righteous live by their faithfulness.

5 Moreover, wealth is treacherous;

the arrogant do not endure.

They open their throats wide as Sheol;

like Death they never have enough.

They gather all nations for themselves

and collect all peoples as their own.

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?

2 Then Yahweh answered me and said,

“Write the vision and make it plain on the tablet

so that it might be read quickly.

3 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.

4 Look! His spirit within him is puffed up;

it is not upright.

But the righteous shall live by his faithfulness.

5 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.

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’?

2 The Lord replies,

“Write down the message I am showing you in a vision.

Write it clearly on the tablets you use.

Then a messenger can read it

and run to announce it.

3 The message I give you

waits for the time I have appointed.

It speaks about what is going to happen.

And all of it will come true.

It might take a while.

But wait for it.

You can be sure it will come.

It will happen when I want it to.

4 “The Babylonians are very proud.

What they want is not good.

“But the one who is right with God

will live by faith.

5 “Wine makes the Babylonians do foolish things.

They are proud. They never rest.

Like the grave, they are always hungry for more.

Like death, they are never satisfied.

They gather all of the nations to themselves.

They take their people away as prisoners.

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?

2 Then the Lord answered me and said,

“Record the vision

And inscribe it on tablets,

That the one who reads it may run.

3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

4 “Behold, as for the proud one,

His soul is not right within him;

But the righteous will live by his faith.

5 “Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man,

So that he does not stay at home.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

And he is like death, never satisfied.

He also gathers to himself all nations

And collects to himself all peoples.

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?’