[1] I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the LORD gave me. [2] Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence? [3] Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere? [4] Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around. [5] Look and be amazed at what's happening among the nations! Even if you were told, you would never believe what's taking place now. [6] I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel- marching across the land, conquering cities and towns. [7] How fearsome and frightening. Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up. [8] Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards, more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset, and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down. [9] They are eager to destroy, and they gather captives like handfuls of sand. [10] They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses, while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities. [11] Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind- those sinful people who worship their own strength. [12] Holy LORD God, mighty rock, you are eternal, and we are safe from death. You are using those Babylonians to judge and punish others. [13] But you can't stand sin or wrong. So don't sit by in silence while they gobble down people who are better than they are. [14] The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader. [15] Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive with hooks and nets. It makes him so happy [16] that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods. [17] Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations without showing mercy?
