Habakkuk 2

1On my charge I stand, and I station myself on a bulwark, and I watch to see what He speaks against me, and what I reply to my reproof.

2And YHWH answers me and says: “Write a vision, and explain on the tablets, || That he may run who is reading it.

3For yet the vision [is] for a season, || And it breathes for the end, and does not lie, || If it lingers, wait for it, || For surely it comes, it is not late.

4Behold, a presumptuous one! His soul is not upright within him, || And the righteous lives by his faith.

5And also, because the wine [is] treacherous, || A man is haughty, and does not remain at home, || Who has enlarged his soul as Sheol, || And is as death that is not satisfied, || And gathers to itself all the nations, || And assembles to itself all the peoples,

6Are these not—all of them—an allegory taken up against him, || And a moral of acute sayings for him, || And say, Woe [to] him who is multiplying [what is] not his? Until when also is he multiplying to himself heavy pledges?

7Do your usurers not instantly rise up, || And those shaking you awake, || And you have been a spoil to them?

8Because you have spoiled many nations, || All the remnant of the peoples spoil you, || Because of man’s blood, and of violence [to] the land, || [To] the city, and [to] all dwelling in it.

9Woe [to] him who is gaining evil gain for his house, || To set his nest on high, || To be delivered from the hand of evil,

10You have counseled a shameful thing to your house, || To cut off many peoples, and your soul [is] sinful.

11For a stone cries out from the wall, || And a beam from the wood answers it.

12Woe [to] him who is building a city by blood, || And establishing a city by iniquity.

13Behold, is it not from YHWH of Hosts || And peoples are fatigued for fire, || And nations for vanity are weary?

14For the earth is full of the knowledge of the glory of YHWH, || As the waters cover over a sea.

15Woe [to] him who is giving drink to his neighbor, || Pouring out your bottle, and also making drunk, || In order to look on their nakedness.

16You have been filled—shame without honor, || Drink also, and be uncircumcised, || Turn around to you does the cup of the right hand of YHWH, || And shameful spewing [is] on your glory.

17For violence [done to] Lebanon covers you, || And spoil of beasts frightens them, || Because of man’s blood, and of violence [to] the land, || [To] the city, and [to] all dwelling in it.

18What profit has a carved image given || That its former has hewn it? A molten image and teacher of falsehood, || That the former has trusted on his own formation—to make mute idols?

19Woe [to] him who is saying to wood, Awake, || To a mute stone, Stir up, || It [is] a teacher! Behold, it is overlaid—gold and silver, || And there is no spirit in its midst.

20And YHWH [is] in His holy temple, || Be silent before Him, all the earth!”