Parallel Bible results for "habakkuk 1"

Habakkuk 1

New Revised Standard NRS

1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

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?

3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

4 So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous— therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

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.

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.

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

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.

9 They all come for violence, with faces pressing forward; they gather captives like sand.

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

11 Then they sweep by like the wind; they transgress and become guilty; their own might is their god!

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.

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?

14 You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.

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.

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.

17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and destroying nations without mercy?

The Message Bible MSG

1 The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:

2 God, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, "Help! Murder! Police!" before you come to the rescue?

3 Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.

4 Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head. God Says, "Look!"

5 "Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard to believe.

6 I'm about to raise up Babylonians to punish you, Babylonians, fierce and ferocious - World-conquering Babylon, grabbing up nations right and left,

7 A dreadful and terrible people, making up its own rules as it goes.

8 Their horses run like the wind, attack like bloodthirsty wolves. A stampede of galloping horses thunders out of nowhere. They descend like vultures circling in on carrion.

9 They're out to kill. Death is on their minds. They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts.

10 They mock kings, poke fun at generals, Spit on forts, and leave them in the dust.

11 They'll all be blown away by the wind. Brazen in sin, they call strength their god." Why Is God Silent Now?

12 God, you're from eternity, aren't you? Holy God, we aren't going to die, are we? God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?

13 But you can't be serious! You can't condone evil! So why don't you do something about this? Why are you silent now? This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous and you stand around and watch!

14 You're treating men and women as so many fish in the ocean, Swimming without direction, swimming but not getting anywhere.

15 Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing. He pulls in a good catch. He catches his limit and fills his creel - a good day of fishing! He's happy!

16 He praises his rod and reel, piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it! It's made his day, and he's going to eat well tonight!

17 Are you going to let this go on and on? Will you let this Babylonian fisherman Fish like a weekend angler, killing people as if they're nothing but fish?