1:1 The oracle of God which Habak'kuk the prophet saw.
1:1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear? Or cry to thee "Violence!" and thou wilt not save?
1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save?

1:3 Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
1:3 Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

1:4 So the law is slacked and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice goes forth perverted.
1:4 So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous--therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
1:5 Look at the nations, and see! Be astonished! Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told.

1:6 For lo, I am rousing the Chalde'ans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize habitations not their own.
1:6 For I am rousing the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous nation, who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.

1:7 Dread and terrible are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.
1:7 Dread and fearsome are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.

1:8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Yea, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.
1:8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more menacing than wolves at dusk; their horses charge. Their horsemen come from far away; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.

1:9 They all come for violence; terror of them goes before them. They gather captives like sand.
1:9 They all come for violence, with faces pressing forward; they gather captives like sand.

1:10 At kings they scoff, and of rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, for they heap up earth and take it.
1:10 At kings they scoff, and of rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it.

1:11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!
1:11 Then they sweep by like the wind; they transgress and become guilty; their own might is their god!

1:12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them as a judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established them for chastisement.
1:12 Are you not from of old, O LORD my God, my Holy One? You shall not die. O LORD, you have marked them for judgment; and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment.

1:13 Thou who art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on wrong, why dost thou look on faithless men, and art silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
1:13 Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?

1:14 For thou makest men like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.
1:14 You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.

1:15 He brings all of them up with a hook, he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults.
1:15 The enemy brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults.

1:16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.
1:16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his seine; for by them his portion is lavish, and his food is rich.

1:17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and mercilessly slaying nations for ever?
1:17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and destroying nations without mercy?