Habakkuk 2

1I will stand at my post and station myself on the rampart, watching to see what he will say to me, and what I will reply concerning my rebuke.

2Yahweh answered me and said, "Write the vision, and make it clear on the tablets, so that whoever reads it may run."

3For the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end and will not deceive. Though it lingers, wait for it, for it will surely come and not delay.

4Behold, his soul which is puffed up is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.

5Moreover, wine deals treacherously—a haughty man who refuses to stay home, enlarging his appetite like Sheol; he resembles death, never satisfied, yet gathers all nations to himself and heaps all peoples to himself.

6Won't all these raise a proverb against him, a taunting riddle against him, and say, "Woe to him who multiplies what is not his—how long?—who burdens himself with thick clay!"

7Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and those who vex you awaken, and you become plunder for them?

8Because you plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you, for human bloodshed and violence against the land, the city, and everyone dwelling in it.

9Woe to him who pursues evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be delivered from the hand of evil.

10You plotted shame for your house by destroying many peoples and sinning against your soul.

11For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the wood will answer it.

12Woe to anyone who builds a city by bloodshed and establishes a city through injustice!

13Behold, is it not from Yahweh of hosts that peoples labor for fire, and nations weary themselves for vanity?

14For the earth will be filled with knowledge of Yahweh's glory, as waters cover the sea.

15Woe to him who gives his companion drink, mingling your bottle and also making him drunk, so that you may behold their nakedness.

16You have filled up with shame instead of glory; drink too—you—and be stripped bare! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will whirl upon you, and shameful vomiting upon your glory.

17For violence against Lebanon will cover you, and ruin among the beasts will terrify them, because of human bloodshed and violence to the land, the city, and all who dwell in it.

18What use is a carved image, since its maker has carved it and its framer has framed it—a molten image and a teacher of lies—since its fashioner trusts in its form to make worthless mute idols?

19Woe to anyone who says to the wood, "Awake!", to the silent stone, "Rouse!", does it teach? Behold, it is covered with gold and silver, yet no breath at all is in its midst.

20Yahweh is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.