(KJV) Habakkuk 1¹

⥃Habakkuk’s First Complaint

[1] The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.² [2] O Lord, how³ long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save⁴! [3] Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention.⁵ [4] Therefore the law⁶ is slacked, and judgment doth never go for⁷th: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong⁸ judgment proceedeth.

⥃The LORD’s Answer

[5] Behold ye among⁹ the heathen, and regard¹⁰, and wonder marvellously: for¹¹ [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you]. [6] For, lo, I raise¹² up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth¹³ of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs. [7] They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment¹⁴ and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. [8] Their horses¹⁵ also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce¹⁶ than the evening¹⁷ wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they¹⁸ shall fly as the eagle [that] hasteth to eat. [9] They shall come all for¹⁹ violence: their faces shall sup up [as] the east²⁰ wind, and they shall gather²¹ the captivity as the sand. [10] And they shall scoff²² at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride²³ every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. [11] Then shall [his²⁴] mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, [imputing²⁵] this his power unto his god.

⥃Habakkuk’s Second Complaint ^{[ Psalms 11:1–7 ]}

[12] [Art] thou not²⁶ from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine²⁷ Holy One? we²⁸ shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained²⁹ them for judgment; and, O mighty God³⁰, thou hast established³¹ them for³² correction. [13] [Thou art] of³³ purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity³⁴: wherefore³⁵ lookest thou upon them that deal³⁶ treacherously, [and] holdest³⁷ thy tongue when the wicked³⁸ devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he? [14] And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping³⁹ things, [that have] no⁴⁰ ruler over them? [15] They take⁴¹ up all of them with the angle, they catch⁴² them in their net, and gather them in their drag⁴³: therefore⁴⁴ they rejoice and are glad. [16] Therefore they⁴⁵ sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous⁴⁶. [17] Shall they therefore empty their net, and⁴⁷ not spare continually to slay the nations?