The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear! Even cry out to You of violence, and You will not save!

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to behold trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there are those who raise up strife and contention.

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth, for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Look among the nations and watch—be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than evening wolves; their horsemen spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

They all come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind, and they gather captives like sand.

They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

They scoff at kings, and the princes are scorned by them; they deride every stronghold, for they heap up dust and take it.

And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; he commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.

Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment; O mighty God, You have established them for correction.

Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a man more righteous than he?

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

You make men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them.

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

They take up all of them with a hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet; therefore they rejoice and are glad.

They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their dragnet; because by them their portion is sumptuous and their food plentiful.

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?