KJ3 Literal Translation
Habakkuk 2
To Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is shown that he must wait by faith.
1I will stand on my guard and set myself on the siege-works, and watch to see what He will say against me, and what I shall return on my rebuke.
2And Jehovah answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it on the tablets, that he who reads it may run.
3For the vision is still for the appointed time, but it breathes to the end, and it does not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, because coming it will come; it will not tarry.
4Behold, the soul in him is puffed up and is not upright; but the just shall live by his faith.
5And also, wine indeed betrays a proud man, and he dwells not at home; who widens his soul like Sheol; and he is like death, and is not satisfied, but gathers all the nations to himself, and collects all the peoples to himself.
6Shall not all of these lift up a parable against him, and a mocking riddle to him, and say, Woe to him who increases what is not his! Until when is he loading the pledges on himself?
7Shall not those who bite you rise up suddenly, and those who shake you be aroused, and you become a prize to him?
8Because you have plundered many nations, all the rest of the people shall plunder you, because of the blood of men and the violence of the land, and the city, and all those dwelling in it.
9Woe to him gaining evil gain for his house, to set his nest in the height, to be snatched from the palm of evil!
10You have counseled shame for your house, to make an end of many peoples, and are sinning in your soul.
11For the stone shall cry out from the wall, and the beam shall answer it from the wood.
12Woe to him who builds a town with blood and establishes a city by iniquity!
13Behold, is it not for Jehovah of Hosts that the people labor only for fire, and nations grow weary for emptiness?
14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover over the sea.
15Woe to him who causes his friend to drink, joining with your bottle, and also making him drunk, so as to look upon their nakedness!
16You are sated with shame without honor; you drink also, and will be seen as uncircumcised. The cup of the right hand of Jehovah shall turn on you, and disgrace shall be your honor.
17For the violence of Lebanon shall cover you, and the ruin of beasts terrify them because of the blood of men and the violence of the land, the city, and all those dwelling in it.
18What does an image profit, for its former has carved it; a molten image, and a teacher of falsehood? For does the former trust in his work on it, to make mute idols?
19Woe to the one who says to the wood, Awake! To a stone in silence, Rise up, it shall teach! Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but no breath is in its midst.
20But Jehovah is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
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