Habakkuk 2:3-13

3 For yet the vision is far, and it shall appear into the end, and shall not lie; if it shall make dwelling, abide thou it, for it coming shall come, and shall not tarry. (For yet the vision is far off, but it shall appear in the end, and it shall not lie; and even if it appeareth to be delayed, wait thou for it, for it is coming, and indeed shall come, and shall not be late.)
4 Lo! the soul of him, that is unbelieveful, shall not be rightful in himself; forsooth the just man shall live in his faith. (Lo! the soul of him, who is unbelieving, shall not be right within himself; but the just, or the righteous, shall live by faith.)
5 And as wine deceiveth a man drinking, so shall the proud man be, and he shall not be made fair; for as hell he alarged his soul, and he is as death, and he is not [ful]filled; and he shall gather to him all folks, and he shall gather together to him all peoples. (And like wine deceiveth someone who is drinking, so shall be the proud person, and he shall never be content, or at peace; for he enlarged his soul, or his mouth, as wide as Sheol, or the land of the dead, but he, like death itself, shall never be satisfied, or fulfilled; even though he shall gather all the nations unto himself, yea, though he shall gather together all the peoples unto himself.)
6 Whether not all these peoples shall take a parable on him, and the speaking of dark sentences of him? And it shall be said, Woe to him that multiplieth things not his own; how long, and he aggregateth against himself thick clay? (Shall not all these peoples turn him into a parable, or an example, and speak dark sentences about him? And so it shall be said, Woe to you who multiplieth riches not your own! how long shall you gather unto yourself things taken in pledge?)
7 Whether not suddenly they shall rise together, that shall bite thee? And they shall be raised tearing thee, and thou shalt be into raven to them; and thine ambushers in evil shall wake. (Shall they not suddenly rise up, and bite thee? Yea, they shall be raised up, and shall tear thee apart, and thou shalt become prey, or spoils, to them; and thy ambushers in evil shall watch for thy fall.)
8 For thou robbedest many folks, all shall rob thee, which shall be residue, either left, of peoples, for blood of man, and for wickedness of land, of the city, and of all men dwelling in it. (For thou hast robbed many nations, all who shall be the residue, or those left, of the peoples, shall rob thee, for the bloodshed, or the murder, of the people, and for the wickedness done in the land, to the city, and to all the people who live there.)
9 Woe to him that gathereth evil covetousness to his house, that his nest be on high, and guesseth him for to be delivered (out) of the hand of evil. (Woe to you who gathereth evil gain, or filthy lucre, unto your house, so that your nest would be on high, and thinketh yourself to be delivered, or saved, from the hand of evil.)
10 Thou thoughtest confusion to thine house; thou hast slain many peoples, and thy soul sinned. (Thou hast brought shame to thy house; thou hast killed many people, yea, thy soul hath sinned.)
11 For the stone of the wall shall cry, and a tree that is betwixt jointures of buildings shall answer. (And so the stones in the walls shall cry out, and a beam of the timbers that is between the joinings of the building shall answer them.)
12 Woe to him that buildeth a city in bloods, and maketh ready a city in wickedness. (Woe to you who buildeth a city with bloodshed, or with murder, and who maketh ready a city with wickedness.)
13 Whether not these things be of the Lord of hosts? For peoples shall travail in much fire, and folks in vain, and they shall fail. (Be not all these things from the Lord of hosts? For peoples and nations shall labour, or shall struggle, amid much fire, or much adversity, and all for nothing, for they all shall fail.)

Images for Habakkuk 2:3-13

Habakkuk 2:3-13 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.