1. The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2. How long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and You will not hear? How long shall I cry out to You being injured, and You will not save?

3. Why have You shown me troubles and grievances to look upon, misery and ungodliness? Judgment is before me, and the judge receives a reward.

4. Therefore the law is frustrated, and judgment never goes forth, for the ungodly man prevails over the just; therefore perverse judgment will proceed.

5. Behold, you despisers, and look, and wonder marvelously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days which you will by no means believe, though a man declare it to you.

6. Wherefore, behold, I stir up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that walks upon the breadth of the earth, to inherit tabernacles not his own.

7. He is terrible and infamous; his judgment shall proceed of himself, and his dignity shall come out of himself.

8. And his horses shall bound more swiftly than leopards, and they are fiercer than the wolves of Arabia: and his horsemen shall ride forth, and shall rush from far; and they shall fly as an eagle [that] hastens to eat.

9. Destruction shall come upon ungodly men, resisting with their adverse front, and he shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10. And he shall be at his ease with kings, and princes are his toys, and he shall mock at every stronghold, and shall cast a mound, and take possession of it.

11. Then shall he change his spirit, and he shall pass through, and make an atonement, saying, This strength belongs to my God.

12. Are You not from everlasting, O Lord God, my Holy One? And surely we shall not die. O Lord, You have established it for judgment, and He has formed me to chasten with His correction.

13. His eye is too pure to behold evil doings, and to look upon grievous afflictions: why do You look upon despisers? Will You be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just?

14. And will You make men as the fish in the sea, and as the reptiles which have no guide?

15. He has brought up destruction with a hook, and drawn one with a casting net, and caught another in his drags: therefore shall his heart rejoice and be glad.

16. Therefore will he sacrifice to his drag, and burn incense to his casting net, because by them he has made his portion fat, and his meats choice.

17. Therefore will he cast his net, and will not spare to slay the nations continually.