The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Biblia.com)

Justice Is a Joke

1–4 1 The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:

God, how long do I have to cry out for help

before you listen?

How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”

before you come to the rescue?

Why do you force me to look at evil,

stare trouble in the face day after day?

Anarchy and violence break out,

quarrels and fights all over the place.

Law and order fall to pieces.

Justice is a joke.

The wicked have the righteous hamstrung

and stand justice on its head.

God Says, “Look!”

5–11 “Look around at the godless nations.

Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock.

Something’s about to take place

and you’re going to find it hard to believe.

I’m about to raise up Babylonians to punish you,

Babylonians, fierce and ferocious—

World-conquering Babylon,

grabbing up nations right and left,

A dreadful and terrible people,

making up its own rules as it goes.

Their horses run like the wind,

attack like bloodthirsty wolves.

A stampede of galloping horses

thunders out of nowhere.

They descend like vultures

circling in on carrion.

They’re out to kill. Death is on their minds.

They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts.

They mock kings,

poke fun at generals,

Spit on forts,

and leave them in the dust.

They’ll all be blown away by the wind.

Brazen in sin, they call strength their god.”

Why Is God Silent Now?

12–13 God, you’re from eternity, aren’t you?

Holy God, we aren’t going to die, are we?

God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work?

Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?

But you can’t be serious!

You can’t condone evil!

So why don’t you do something about this?

Why are you silent now?

This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous

and you stand around and watch!

14–16 You’re treating men and women

as so many fish in the ocean,

Swimming without direction,

swimming but not getting anywhere.

Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing.

He pulls in a good catch.

He catches his limit and fills his creel—

a good day of fishing! He’s happy!

He praises his rod and reel,

piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it!

It’s made his day,

and he’s going to eat well tonight!

17 Are you going to let this go on and on?

Will you let this Babylonian fisherman

Fish like a weekend angler,

killing people as if they’re nothing but fish?

	About The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Many people assume that a book about a holy God should sound elevated, stately, and ceremonial. If this is how you’ve always viewed the Bible, you’re about to make a surprising discovery. The Message brings the life-changing power of the New Testament, the vibrant passion of the Psalms, and the rich, practical wisdom of Proverbs into easy-to-read modern language that echoes the rhythm and idioms of the original Greek and Hebrew. Written in the same kind of language you’d use to talk with friends, write a letter, or discuss politics, The Message preserves the authentic, earthy flavor and the expressive character of the Bible’s best-loved books. Whether you’ve been reading the Bible for years or are exploring it for the first time, The Message will startle and surprise you. And it will allow you to experience firsthand the same power and directness that motivated its original readers to change the course of history so many centuries ago.
Copyright	Copyright 2005 Eugene H. Peterson. THE MESSAGE text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses, without express written permission of the publisher, NavPress Publishing Group, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible and do not account for 25 percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. Notice of copyright must appear as follows on either the title page or the copyright page of the work in which THE MESSAGE is quoted: “Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.” When quotations from THE MESSAGE text are used in nonsaleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies, or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but “The Message” must appear at the end of each quotation. Permission requests for commercial and noncommercial use that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by NavPress Publishing Group, Permissions, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.
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About The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language