Habakkuk 2:2-20

2 And the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.

5 "Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.

6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, `Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his (how long?) and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay'?

7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake, that shall vex thee? And shalt thou be for booty unto them?

8 Because thou hast despoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall despoil thee, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

9 "Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12 "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!

13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

15 "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on his nakedness!

16 Thou art filled with the shame for glory; drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered. The cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts which made them afraid, because of men's blood and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

18 "What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it, the molten image and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb idols?

19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, `Awake!' To the dumb stone, `Arise, it shall teach!' Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

20 "But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him."

Habakkuk 2:2-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 2

This chapter contains an answer from the Lord to the expostulations, pleadings, and reasonings of the prophet, in the name of the people. The preparation of the prophet to receive this answer is described, Hab 2:1 then follows the answer itself, in which he is bid to write and make plain the vision he had, that it might be easily read, Hab 2:2 and a promise is made, that vision should still be continued to the appointed time, at which time the Messiah would come; and this the righteous man, in opposition to the vain and proud man, is encouraged to live in the faith of, Hab 2:3,4 and then the destruction of the enemies of the people of God is threatened for their pride, ambition, covetousness, oppression, and murder, Hab 2:5-12 which would be unavoidable, Hab 2:13 and issue in the spread of the knowledge of the glory of God in the world, Hab 2:14 and also the ruin of other enemies is threatened, for drawing men into apostasy, and for their violence and idolatry, Hab 2:15-19 upon which would follow an universal silence in the earth, Hab 2:20.