The Abridged Book of Habakkuk

1:1. Here's what the prophet Habakkik is worried about.

1:2. God, I've been calling for help for so long, why don't you listen? I tell you about the violence but you don’t rescue us!

1:3. Why do you let me see so much crime and hardship? Everywhere I look there's destruction and violence, people arguing and fighting.

1:4. It's like the laws don’t matter anymore, and justice never wins. Bad people are surrounding the good ones and fairness seems to be lost.

1:5. Look at the nations around you; watch carefully and be utterly amazed because something unbelievable is going to happen that you wouldn’t believe, even if someone told you.

1:6. God says: "Watch as I bring in the Chaldeans, a fierce and rash people. They’ll sweep across countries and dwell in homes that aren’t theirs.

1:7. They will instill fear all around; their decisions and commands come from themselves alone.

1:8. Their horses are faster than leopards, more ferocious than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry charges ahead, their riders come from far away—they swoop down like eagles rushing to feed.

1:9. They are coming to bring destruction; their faces reveal their hunger for conquest like a strong wind from the desert, sweeping up captives like sand.

1:10. They will mock kings and laugh at rulers. They'll make fun of every fortress; they'll pile up earth against it and capture it.

1:11. Afterwards, the aggressor will change his mind and move on, claiming that his victory was thanks to his own god.

1:12. Aren't you, God, eternal? Oh Lord, my God, we won't be destroyed. You appointed them for the purpose of delivering justice; Almighty God, you're using them to teach us a lesson.

1:13. Your eyes are too pure to look upon wrongdoing; you can't tolerate bad actions. So why do you watch those who are disloyal, staying silent while the bad hurts the better person?

1:14. Do you see humans as just fish in the sea or crawling critters without a leader?

1:15. The aggressors catch all of them with their hooks, trap them in their nets, and sweep them up in their dragnets; that's why they're so joyful and happy.

1:16. That's why they offer sacrifices to their nets and incense to their dragnets—for these are what bring them a prosperous life and abundant food.

1:17. Will they keep on emptying their nets without mercy, constantly destroying nations?

2:1. I'm going to stay alert and stand watch like a guard in a watchtower, waiting to hear what God will tell me and how I should respond when I'm corrected.

2:2. God responded to me, saying to clearly record the vision so that anyone who reads it can quickly understand and act on it.

2:3. Although the vision might seem to take a while to happen, it's set for a specific time. In the end, it will be fulfilled without fail; be patient and wait for it because it will definitely happen.

2:4. A person who is full of themselves is not honest or good, but someone who is right and fair will live based on their unshaken belief.

2:5. Moreover, a person who lets alcohol control them becomes arrogant, never stays at home, and has an endless craving for more, as if they are chasing death itself. They are unable to feel content despite taking advantage of many nations and peoples.

2:6. Won't everyone speak against such a person using sayings or mocking rhymes? They will exclaim about how terrible it is that he takes things that don't belong to him! How long can he keep piling up debts?

2:7. Won't people suddenly come against one that causes others trouble? They'll wake up ready to harass you, and you'll become their target for plundering.

2:8. Since you've taken advantage of many nations, those that remain will now take advantage of you, because of the violence you've caused in countries, cities, and to everyone who lives there.

2:9. Trouble awaits the person who greedily gathers wealth for their household, hoping to stay safe, high above danger.

2:10. By harming so many others, you have brought disgrace upon your own family and harm to yourself.

2:11. The very stones from the walls and the woodwork itself will cry out about your wrongdoing.

2:12. Trouble awaits anyone who builds a community through violence and corruption!

2:13. Don’t you see it's pointless when people exhaust themselves with fruitless labor as if they were working in a furnace for nothing?

2:14. Eventually, knowledge of God's splendor will fill the earth, just as water completely covers the ocean floor.

2:15. Bad news for the person who gets their neighbor drunk, hands them a drink, and then gets them even more intoxicated just to see them in an embarrassing state!

2:16. You have gained dishonor instead of respect: you drink as well and be exposed; God's cup of judgment will come your way, making a terrible mess of what you took pride in.

2:17. Your own violent actions will come back to haunt you like the fear beasts caused in Lebanon, because of the bloodshed and violence you have caused in the land, the cities, and to everyone living there.

2:18. What's the use of a crafted idol that the creator has shaped into an image; a statue that’s nothing but a lie that tells no truth, but its creator relies on it, making silent gods?

2:19. It's foolish to talk to a wooden image or tell a silent stone to get up and teach! Look, despite being covered with gold and silver, it doesn't have any life inside it.

2:20. Yet, God is in their holy dwelling; everyone on Earth should be still in presence of God.

3:1. This is a prayer from the prophet Habakkuk, sung in an emotional style.

3:2. God, I have heard what you've said and it scared me: God, breathe life into your deeds during our time, show yourself while remembering to be kind even when you're upset.

3:3. God approached from the direction of Teman, and from Mount Paran came God's holy presence. Think about this: God's magnificence filled the skies, and the world was full of praise for Them.

3:4. They shone brightly like sunlight; rays flashed from Their hand: that’s where Their strength was hidden.

3:5. Diseases spread in front of Them, and They left a trail of flaming embers behind.

3:6. God paused to survey the earth; looked around and made nations spread out; even age-old mountains crumbled, ancient hills bowed down. God's actions are timeless.

3:7. I observed the people of Cushan struggling; even the nomads of Midian were frightened.

3:8. Was it the rivers that angered you, Lord? Were you upset with them? Did your displeasure extend out to the sea when you rode out on your horses and in your victory chariots?

3:9. You revealed your power like brandishing a bow, as sure as the promises made to various tribes. Think about this: You split open the land with flowing rivers.

3:10. The mountains saw you and shuddered; floodwaters swept by: oceans cried out loud, raising their waves high in respect.

3:11. The sun and moon stood in place: they moved with the brightness of your flying arrows and the gleam of your shining spear.

3:12. You marched through the land with fury, stomping down nations in rage.

3:13. You set out to save your people, to save those you have chosen; you dealt a blow to the leaders of the evil ones, exposing their foundations.

3:14. You pierced the heads of their warriors with their own weapons; they stormed at me wanting my defeat, celebrating like they were secretly taking down someone defenseless.

3:15. You walked through the sea with your horses, splashing through mighty waters.

3:16. I heard about this and felt weak; my mouth trembled at the sound: I was so frightened that deep inside I hoped for relief from this terror, when you would march against our enemies with your soldiers.

3:17. Even though there may be no figs growing on the trees, and no grapes on the vines; even if the olive harvest fails and the fields produce no food; even if there are no sheep in their pens and no cattle in our barn's,

3:18. I will still be happy with God; I will truly find joy in God who saves me.

3:19. The LORD God is my strength; God will make me as sure-footed as a deer and guide me to walk on high places meant for those leading us in worship with stringed instruments.