The Vision and the Woes
Habakkuk 2
The prophet stands watch for the Lord's reply and is told to write the vision plainly, for the just will live by faith while the arrogant man will not endure. A series of woes then falls on the oppressor for plunder, bloodshed, drunkenness, and idolatry, closing with the Lord in his holy temple before whom all the earth must keep silence and fear.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonI WILL stand on my watch and go up upon a rock and look around, that I may see what he will say to me and what answer I shall receive to my expostulation.
BrentonI will stand upon my watch, and mount upon the rock, and watch to see what he will say by me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
GreekἘπὶ τῆς φυλακῆς μου στήσομαι, καὶ ἐπιβήσομαι ἐπὶ πέτραν, καὶ ἀποσκοπεύσω τοῦ ἰδεῖν τί λαλήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ, καὶ τί ἀποκριθῶ ἐπὶ τὸν ἔλεγχόν μου.
KJVI will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
JPSI will stand upon my watch, And set me upon the tower, And will look out to see what He will speak by me, And what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2
ThomsonAnd the Lord answered and said: Write a vision; write it distinctly in a book that the reader may trace these things;
BrentonAnd the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision, and that plainly on a tablet, that he that reads it may run.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη πρὸς μὲ Κύριος, καὶ εἶπε, γράψον ὅρασιν, καὶ σαφῶς εἰς πυξίον, ὅπως διώκῃ ὁ ἀναγινώσκων αὐτά.
KJVAnd the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
JPSAnd the LORD answered me, and said: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, That a man may read it swiftly.
3
Thomsonfor the vision is for a time yet to come. But it will spring up at last and will not be vain. Though he may tarry, wait for him; for he will assuredly come and will not fail.
BrentonFor the vision is yet for a time, and it shall shoot forth at the end, and not in vain: though he should tarry, wait for him; for he will surely come, and will not tarry.
GreekΔιότι ἔτι ὅρασις εἰς καιρὸν, καὶ ἀνατελεῖ εἰς πέρας, καὶ οὐκ εἰς κενόν· ἐὰν ὑστερήσῃ, ὑπὸμεινον αὐτὸν, ὅτι ἐρχόμενος ἥξει, καὶ οὐ μὴ χρονίσῃ.
KJVFor the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
JPSFor the vision is yet for the appointed time, And it declareth of the end, and doth not lie; Though it tarry, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not delay.’
4
ThomsonIf anyone draw back, My soul hath no pleasure in him. But the just shall live by faith in Me.
BrentonIf he should draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him: but the just shall live by my faith.
GreekἘὰν ὑποστείληται, οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ· ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεώς μου ζήσεται.
KJVBehold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
JPSBehold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; But the righteous shall live by his faith.
5
ThomsonNow this arrogant and contemptuous man—this man of boasts—shall not exceed a certain bound. He enlarged his soul like Hades and like death was not satisfied. When he shall have gathered to him all the nations and received for himself all the peoples,
BrentonBut the arrogant man and the scorner, the boastful man, shall not finish anything; who has enlarged his desire as the grave, and like death he is never satisfied, and he will gather to himself all the nations, and will receive to himself all the peoples.
GreekὉ δὲ κατοιόμενος, καὶ καταφρονητὴς, ἀνὴρ ἀλαζὼν, οὐθὲν μὴ περάνῃ· ὃς ἐπλάτυνε καθὼς ᾅδης τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὗτος ὡς θάνατος οὐκ ἐμπιπλάμενος, καὶ ἐπισυνάξει ἐπʼ αὐτὸν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ εἰσδέξεται πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντας τοὺς λαούς.
KJVYea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
JPSYea, moreover, wine is a treacherous dealer; The haughty man abideth not; He who enlargeth his desire as the nether-world, And is as death, and cannot be satisfied, But gathereth unto him all nations, And heapeth unto him all peoples.
6
Thomsonwill they not all take up a parable against him and a fable to tell of him, saying, Woe to him who is heaping up for himself things which do not belong to him? For how long? And making his yoke grievously heavy.
BrentonShall not all these take up a parable against him? and a proverb to tell against him? and they shall say, Woe to him that multiplies to himself the possessions which are not his! how long? and who heavily loads his yoke.
GreekΟὐχὶ ταῦτα πάντα κατʼ αὐτοῦ παραβολὴν λήψονται, καὶ πρόβλημα εἰς διήγησιν αὐτοῦ; καὶ ἐροῦσιν, οὐαὶ ὁ πληθύνων ἑαυτῷ τὰ οὐκ ὄντα αὐτοῦ ἕως τίνος, καὶ βαρύνων τὸν κλοιὸν αὐτοῦ στιβαρῶς.
KJVShall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
JPSShall not all these take up a parable against him, And a taunting riddle against him, And say: ‘Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! How long? and that ladeth himself with many pledges! ’
7
ThomsonFor them that bite him shall start up suddenly. And the plotters against thee shall be watchful, and thou shalt be plunder for them.
BrentonFor suddenly there shall arise up those that bite him, and they that plot against thee shall awake, and thou shalt be a plunder to them.
GreekὍτι ἐξαίφνης ἀναστήσονται δάκνοντες αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐκνήψουσιν οἱ ἐπίβουλοί σου, καὶ ἔσῃ εἰς διαρπαγὴν αὐτοῖς,
KJVShall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
JPSShall they not rise up suddenly that shall exact interest of thee, And awake that shall violently shake thee, And thou shalt be for booties unto them?
8
ThomsonBecause thou hast plundered many nations, all the remaining peoples shall plunder thee for the blood of mankind, and for the impieties of a land and a city and of all them who inhabit it.
BrentonBecause thou hast spoiled many nations, all the nations that are left shall spoil thee, because of the blood of men, and the sins of the land and city, and of all that dwell in it.
Greekδιότι ἐσκύλευσας ἔθνη πολλὰ, σκυλεύσουσι πάντες οἱ ὑπολελειμμένοι λαοὶ, διʼ αἵματα ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀσεβείας γῆς καὶ πόλεως, καὶ πάντων τῶν κατοικούντων αὐτήν.
KJVBecause thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
JPSBecause thou hast spoiled many nations, All the remnant of the peoples shall spoil thee; Because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, To the city and to all that dwell therein.
9
ThomsonWoe to him who coveteth wicked gain for his house, that he may raise his nest high, to be out of the reach of evils.
BrentonWoe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evils.
GreekὪ ὁ πλεονεκτῶν πλεονεξίαν κακὴν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ τάξαι εἰς ὕψος νοσσιὰν αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ἐκσπασθῆναι ἐκ χειρὸς κακῶν.
KJVWoe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
JPSWoe to him that gaineth evil gains for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of evil!
10
ThomsonThou hast contrived shame for thy house; thou hast provoked many peoples and thy soul hath sinned;
BrentonThou hast devised shame to thy house, thou hast utterly destroyed many nations, and thy soul has sinned.
GreekἘβουλεύσω αἰσχύνην τῷ οἴκῳ σου, συνεπέρανας πολλοὺς λαοὺς, καὶ ἐξήμαρτεν ἡ ψυχή σου.
KJVThou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
JPSThou hast devised shame to thy house, By cutting off many peoples, And hast forfeited thy life.
11
Thomsonfor a stone out of a wall will cry out, and a worm from a beam will proclaim these things.
BrentonFor the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beetle out of the timber shall speak.
GreekΔιότι λίθος ἐκ τοίχου βοήσεται, καὶ κάνθαρος ἐκ ξύλου φθέγξεται αὐτά.
KJVFor the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
JPSFor the stone shall cry out of the wall, And the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
12
ThomsonWoe to him who buildeth a city with blood and furbisheth up a city with iniquities!
BrentonWoe to him that builds a city with blood, and establishes a city by unrighteousness.
GreekΟὐαὶ ὁ οἰκοδομῶν πόλιν ἐν αἵμασι, καὶ ἑτοιμάζων πόλιν ἐν ἀδικίαις.
KJVWoe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
JPSWoe to him that buildeth a town with blood, And establisheth a city by iniquity!
13
ThomsonAre not these things from the Lord Almighty? When many nations have fainted by fire, and many peoples have been dispirited,
BrentonAre not these things of the Lord Almighty? surely many people have been exhausted in the fire, and many nations have fainted.
GreekΟὐ ταῦτά ἐστι παρὰ Κυρίου παντοκράτορος; καὶ ἐξέλιπον λαοὶ ἱκανοὶ ἐν πυρὶ, καὶ ἔθνη πολλὰ ὠλιγοψύχησαν.
KJVBehold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
JPSBehold, is it not of the LORD of hosts That the peoples labour for the fire, And the nations weary themselves for vanity?
14
Thomsonthat the earth may be filled with a knowledge of the glory of God. Like water it will cover them.
BrentonFor the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord; it shall cover them as water.
GreekὍτι ἐμπλησθήσεται ἡ γῆ τοῦ γνῶναι τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου, ὡς ὕδωρ κατακαλύψει αὐτούς.
KJVFor the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
JPSFor the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
15
ThomsonWoe to him who maketh his neighbour drink a foamy intoxicating draught, making him drunk that he may inspect his caves.
BrentonWoe to him that gives his neighbour to drink the thick lees of wine, and intoxicates him, that he may look upon their secret parts.
GreekὪ ὁ ποτίζων τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἀνατροπῇ θολερᾷ, καὶ μεθύσκων ὅπως ἐπιβλέπῃ ἐπὶ τὰ σπήλαια αὐτῶν.
KJVWoe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
JPSWoe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, That puttest thy venom thereto, and makest him drunken also, That thou mayest look on their nakedness!
16
ThomsonInstead of honour, drink thou also a full draught of dishonour, and be confounded at heart and shaken. The cup of the right hand of the Lord is come round to thee, and dishonour is heaped upon thy glory.
BrentonDrink thou also thy fill of disgrace instead of glory: shake, O heart, and quake, the cup of the right hand of the Lord has come round upon thee, and dishonour has gathered upon thy glory.
GreekΠλησμονὴν ἀτιμίας ἐκ δόξης πίε καὶ σύ· καρδία σαλεύθητι, καὶ σείσθητι· ἐκύκλωσεν ἐπὶ σὲ ποτήριον δεξιᾶς Κυρίου, καὶ συνήχθη ἀτιμία ἐπὶ τὴν δόξαν σου.
KJVThou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
JPSThou art filled with shame instead of glory, Drink thou also, and be uncovered; The cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, And filthiness shall be upon thy glory.
17
ThomsonFor the impiety at Lebanon shall the account of the blood of mankind, and for the wickedness of a land and a city and of all them who inhabit it.
BrentonFor the ungodliness of Libanus shall cover thee, and distress because of wild beasts shall dismay thee, because of the blood of men, and the sins of the land and city, and of all that dwell in it.
GreekΔιότι ἀσέβεια τοῦ Λιβάνου καλύψει σε, καὶ ταλαιπωρία θηρίων πτοήσει σε, διʼ αἵματα ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀσεβείας γῆς καὶ πόλεως, καὶ πάντων τῶν κατοικούντων αὐτήν.
KJVFor the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
JPSFor the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, And the destruction of the beasts, which made them afraid; Because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, To the city and to all that dwell therein.
18
ThomsonOf what avail is a graven thing, that they have engraved it? Did one cause a molten mass, a false fantasy, to be cast, because the caster had confidence that by [thus] casting he would make dumb idols?
BrentonWhat profits it the graven image, that they have graven it? one has made it a molten work, a false image; for the maker has trusted in his work, to make dumb idols.
GreekΤί ὠφελεῖ γλυπτὸν, ὅτι ἔγλυψαν αὐτό; ἔπλασεν αὐτὸ χώνευμα, φαντασίαν ψευδῆ, ὅτι πέποιθεν ὁ πλάσας ἐπὶ τὸ πλάσμα αὐτοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι εἴδωλα κωφά.
KJVWhat profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
JPSWhat profiteth the graven image, That the maker thereof hath graven it, Even the molten image, and the teacher of lies; That the maker of his work trusteth therein, To make dumb idols?
19
ThomsonWoe to him who saith to wood, Awake, arise! And to stone, Be thou exalted. The one is indeed a fantasy; and the other, a plating of gold and silver: there is no breath in it.
BrentonWoe to him that says to the wood, Awake, arise; and to the stone, Be thou exalted! whereas it is an image, and this is a casting of gold and silver, and there is no breath in it.
GreekΟὐαὶ ὁ λέγων τῷ ξύλῳ, ἔκνηψον, ἐξεγέρθητι· καὶ τῷ λίθῳ, ὑψώθητι· καὶ αὐτό ἐστι φαντασία· τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν ἔλασμα χρυσίου καὶ ἀργυρίου, καὶ πᾶν πνεῦμα οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν αὐτῷ.
KJVWoe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
JPSWoe unto him that saith to the wood: ‘Awake’, To the dumb stone: ‘Arise! ’ Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
20
ThomsonBut the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be awed before Him
BrentonBut the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth fear before him.
GreekὉ δὲ Κύριος ἐν ναῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ· εὐλαβείσθω ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ.
KJVBut the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
JPSBut the LORD is in His holy temple; Let all the earth keep silence before Him.