Habakkuk 2:1-13

1I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Or and what to answer when I am rebuked

The LORD’s Answer 2Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald Or so that whoever reads it may run with it.

3For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it Or Though he linger, wait for him; / he will certainly come and will not delay.

4“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness Or faith —

5indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

6“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’

7Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.

8Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

9“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!

10You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

11The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!

13Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?