Habakkuk Voices Some Concerns

1:12 Lord, you have been active from ancient times;35

my sovereign God,36 you are immortal.37

Lord, you have made them38 your instrument of judgment.39

Protector,40 you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.41

1:13 You are too just42 to tolerate43 evil;

you are unable to condone44 wrongdoing.

So why do you put up with such treacherous people?45

Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour46 those more righteous than they are?47

1:14 You made people like fish in the sea,

like animals in the sea48 that have no ruler.

1:15 The Babylonian tyrant49 pulls them all up with a fishhook;

he hauls them in with his throw net.50

When he catches51 them in his dragnet,

he is very happy.52

1:16 Because of his success53 he offers sacrifices to his throw net

and burns incense to his dragnet;54

for because of them he has plenty of food,55

and more than enough to eat.56

1:17 Will he then57 continue to fill and empty his throw net?58

Will he always59 destroy60 nations and spare none?61

2:1 I will stand at my watch post;

I will remain stationed on the city wall.1

I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me

and can know2 how I should answer

when he counters my argument.3