1Habakkuk 1

1I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the Lord gave me.Select Habakkuk 1:1

Habakkuk Complains to the

2Our Lord, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence?Select Habakkuk 1:2

3Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?Select Habakkuk 1:3

4Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around.Select Habakkuk 1:4

The Answers Habakkuk

5Look and be amazed at what's happening among the nations! Even if you were told, you would never believe what's taking place now.Select Habakkuk 1:5

6I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel— marching across the land, conquering cities and towns.Select Habakkuk 1:6

7How fearsome and frightening. Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up.Select Habakkuk 1:7

8Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards, more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset, and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down.Select Habakkuk 1:8

9They are eager to destroy, and they gather captives like handfuls of sand.Select Habakkuk 1:9

10They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses, while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities.Select Habakkuk 1:10

11Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind— those sinful people who worship their own strength.Select Habakkuk 1:11

Habakkuk Complains Again

12Holy Lord God, mighty rock, you are eternal, and we are safe from death. You are using those Babylonians to judge and punish others.Select Habakkuk 1:12

13But you can't stand sin or wrong. So don't sit by in silence while they gobble up people who are better than they are.Select Habakkuk 1:13

14The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader.Select Habakkuk 1:14

15Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive with hooks and nets. It makes him so happySelect Habakkuk 1:15

16that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods.Select Habakkuk 1:16

17Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations without showing mercy?Select Habakkuk 1:17