Habakkuk

I will stand on my watch,Take up my station at theathe 1QpHab reads “my.” post,And wait to see what [God] will say to me,bto me Or “through me”; cf. Num. 12.2. What will be the replycWhat will be the reply Taking ʼashib as equivalent to yashib. to my complaint.

GOD answered me and said:Write the prophecy down,Inscribe it clearly on tablets,So that it can be read easily.

For there is yet a prophecydthere is yet a prophecy Emendation yields “the prophecy is a witness.” for a set term,A truthful witness for a time that will come.Even if it tarries, wait for it still;For it will surely come, without delay:

Lo, their spirit within them is puffed up, not upright,ButeLo, their spirit within them is puffed up, not upright, / But Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “Lo, there is a reward for the upright— / the life breath within them— / And…” the righteous are rewarded with lifeFor their fidelity.

How much less then shall the defiantfdefiant Connecting hyyn (1QpHab hwn) with the root hwn, Deut. 1.41; for the thought cf. Prov. 11.31. Meaning of rest of line uncertain. go unpunished,The treacherous, the arrogantWho have made their maw as wide as Sheol,Who are as insatiable as Death,Who have harvested all the nationsAnd gathered in all the peoples!

Surely all these shall pronounce a satire against them,A pointed epigram concerning them.They shall say:Ah, you who pile up what is not yours—How much longer?—And make ever heavier your load of indebtedness!

Right suddenly will your creditorsgcreditors Lit. “usurers.” arise,And those who remindhremind Lit. “shake”; the same verb means “to call to mind” in Samaritan Aramaic. you will awake,And you will be despoiled by them.

Because you plundered many nations,All surviving peoples shall plunder you—For crimes against humans and wrongs against lands,Against cities and all their inhabitants.

Ah, you who have acquired gainsTo the detriment of your own house,Who have destroyed many peoplesiWho have destroyed many peoples Moved up from v. 10 for clarity. In order to set your nest on highTo escape disaster!

You have plotted shame for your own house,And guilt for yourself;

For a stone shall cry out from the wall,And a rafter shall answer it from the woodwork.

Ah, you who have built a town with crime,And established a city with infamy,

So that peoples have had to toil for the fire,jfor the fire I.e., without profit. And nations to weary themselves for naught!kConnection with the next four lines uncertain; they might read better after v. 20. Behold, it is from GOD of Hosts:

For the earth shall be filledWith awe for GOD’s glory As water covers the sea.lFor the earth … the sea Cf. Isa. 11.9.

Ah, you who make others drink to intoxicationAs you pour outmAs you pour out Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “from the bowl of.” your wrath,In order to gaze upon their nakedness!nnakedness Cf. Gen. 9.21–22.

You shall be sated with shameRather than glory:Drink in your turn and stagger!ostagger Emendation yields “uncover yourself”; cf. Lam. 4.21. The cup in GOD’s right hand Shall come around to you,And disgrace topdisgrace to Or “vomit of disgrace upon.” your glory.

For the lawlessness against Lebanon shall cover you,The destruction of animals shall overwhelm youqFor the lawlessness … overwhelm you Meaning of Heb. uncertain.—For crimes against humans and wrongs against lands,Against cities and all their inhabitants.

rThis verse would read well after v. 19. What has the carved image availed,That its maker has carved itFor an image and a false oracle—That the one who makes an item has trusted in it,Producing dumb idols?

Ah, you who say, “Wake up” to wood,“Awaken,” to inert stone!Can that give an oracle?Why, it is encased in gold and silver,But there is no breath inside it.

But GOD in the holy Abode—Be silent before [God], all the earth!