Habakkuk 2:5-14

5 Moreover, wine^[a] betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest.^[b] He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied.^[c] He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.

The 5 Woe Oracles

6 Won't all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him? They will say: Woe to him who amasses what is not his- how much longer?- and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.^[d]

7 Won't your creditors suddenly arise, and those who disturb you wake up? Then you will become spoil for them.^[e]

8 Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you- because of human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.

9 Woe to him who unjustly gains wealth for his house^[f] to place his nest on high, to escape from the reach of disaster!

10 You have planned shame for your house by wiping out many peoples and sinning against your own self.

11 For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will answer them from the woodwork.

12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice!^[g]

13 Is it not from the Lord of Hosts, that the peoples labor [only] to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?^[h]

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord's glory, as the waters cover the sea.^[i]

Habakkuk 2:5-14 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.

Footnotes

• [a] DSS read wealth
• [b] Or man does not endure; Hb obscure
• [c] Pr 27:20; 30:15-16; Isa 5:14
• [d] Dt 24:10-13
• [e] 2 Kg 21:14; Isa 42:22,24
• [f] Or dynasty
• [g] Ezk 22:2-3; Mc 3:10
• [h] Jr 51:58
• [i] Ps 72:19; Isa 6:3; 11:9