The Prophet's Complaint
Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk cries out to the Lord over violence and injustice going unanswered, and the Lord answers that he is raising up the fierce, swift Chaldeans to execute judgment on the earth. The prophet then asks how a holy God can use so wicked a nation, one that drags up peoples with hooks and nets and offers sacrifice to its own weapons.
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
ThomsonTHE vision which Ambakum the prophet saw:
BrentonThe burden which the prophet Ambacum saw.
GreekΤΟ λῆμμα ὃ εἶδεν Ἀμβακοὺμ ὁ προφήτης.
KJVThe burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
JPSTHE burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2
ThomsonHow long, O Lord, shall I cry, and Thou not hearken? How long shall I, being injured, cry to Thee, and Thou not save?
BrentonHow long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and thou wilt not hearken? how long shall I cry out to thee being injured, and thou wilt not save?
GreekἝως τίνος Κύριε κεκράξομαι, καὶ οὐ μὴ εἰσακουσεις; βοήσομαι πρὸς σὲ ἀδικούμενος, καὶ οὐ σώσεις;
KJVO LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
JPSHow long, O LORD, shall I cry, And Thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto Thee of violence, And Thou wilt not save.
3
Thomson—
BrentonWherefore hast thou shewn me troubles and griefs to look upon, misery and ungodliness? judgment is before me, and the judge receives a reward.
GreekἹνατί ἔδειξάς μοι κόπους καὶ πόνους ἐπιβλέπειν, ταλαιπωρίαν καὶ ἀσέβειαν; ἐξεναντίας μου γέγονε κρίσις, καὶ ὁ κριτὴς λαμβάνει·
KJV—
JPS—
4
ThomsonBecause a wicked man oppresseth the just, therefore wrong judgment will be given.
BrentonTherefore the law is frustrated, and judgment proceeds not effectually, for the ungodly man prevails over the just; therefore perverse judgment will proceed.
GreekΔιατοῦτο διεσκέδασται νόμος, καὶ οὐ διεξάγεται εἰς τέλος κρίμα, ὅτι ἀσεβὴς καταδυναστεύει τὸν δίκαιον, ἕνεκεν τούτου ἐξελεύσεται τὸ κρίμα διεστραμμένον.
KJV—
JPS—
5
Thomson(J) See ye despisers! and view intently and be amazed at wonderful things and vanish. For in your days I am doing a work which you will not believe though one tell you.
BrentonBehold, ye despisers, and look, and wonder marvellously, and vanish: for I work a work in your days, which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare it to you.
GreekἼδετε οἱ καταφρονηταὶ, καὶ ἐπιβλέψατε, καὶ θαυμάσατε θαυμάσια, καὶ ἀφανίσθητε· διότι ἔργον ἐγὼ ἐργάζομαι ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ὑμῶν, ὃ οὐ μὴ πιστεύσητε, ἐάν τις ἐκδιηγῆται.
KJVBehold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
JPSLook ye among the nations, and behold, And wonder marvellously; For, behold, a work shall be wrought in your days, Which ye will not believe though it be told you.
6
ThomsonFor lo! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation which marcheth over the breadth of the earth, to possess dwellings which belong not to them.
BrentonWherefore, behold, I stir up the Chaldeans, the bitter and hasty nation, that walks upon the breadth of the earth, to inherit tabernacles not his own.
GreekΔιότι ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξεγείρω τοὺς Χαλδαίους, τὸ ἔνθος τὸ πικρὸν, καὶ τὸ ταχινὸν, τὸ πορευόμενον ἐπὶ τὰ πλάτη τῆς γῆς, τοῦ κατακληρονομῆσαι σκηνώματα οὐκ αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
JPSFor, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, That bitter and impetuous nation, That march through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.
7
ThomsonHe is terrible and illustrious; his judgment will be from himself, and from himself his prophesy will proceed.
BrentonHe is terrible and famous; his judgment shall proceed of himself, and his dignity shall come out of himself.
GreekΦοβερὸς καὶ ἐπιφανής ἐστιν, ἐξ αὐτοῦ τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ ἔσται, καὶ τὸ λῆμμα αὐτοῦ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται.
KJVThey are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
JPS—
8
ThomsonHis horses can out leap leopards and are swifter than the lynxes of Arabia. When his horsemen have mounted, they will rush impetuously from afar, and will fly like an eagle, eager for prey.
BrentonAnd his horses shall bound more swiftly than leopards, and they are fiercer than the wolves of Arabia: and his horsemen shall ride forth, and shall rush from far; and they shall fly as an eagle hasting to eat.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξαλοῦνται ὑπὲρ παρδάλεις οἱ ἵπποι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὀξύτεροι ὑπὲρ τοὺς λύκους τῆς Ἀραβίας· καὶ ἐξιππάσονται οἱ ἱππεῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁρμήσουσι μακρόθεν, καὶ πετασθήσονται ὡς ἀετὸς πρόθυμος εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν.
KJVTheir horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
JPSTheir horses also are swifter than leopards, And are more fierce than the wolves of the desert; And their horsemen spread themselves; Yea, their horsemen come from far, They fly as a vulture that hasteth to devour.
9
ThomsonDestruction will come on the wicked who set themselves against him; and he will gather captives like the sand.
BrentonDestruction shall come upon ungodly men, resisting with their adverse front, and he shall gather the captivity as the sand.
GreekΣυντέλεια εἰς ἀσεβεῖς ἥξει, ἀνθεστηκότας προσώποις αὐτῶν ἐξεναντίας, καὶ συνάξει ὡς ἄμμον αἰχμαλωσίαν·
KJVThey shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
JPS—
10
ThomsonHe indeed will riot in kings; and petty princes will be his scorn. Of every fortress he will make a scoff and will raise a mount and take it.
BrentonAnd he shall be at his ease with kings, and princes are his toys, and he shall mock at every strong-hold, and shall cast a mound, and take possession of it.
Greekκαὶ αὐτὸς ἐν βασιλεῦσιν ἐντρυφήσει, καὶ τύραννοι παίγνια αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς εἰς πᾶν ὀχύρωμα ἐμπαίξεται, καὶ βαλεῖ χῶμα, καὶ κρατήσει αὐτοῦ·
KJVAnd they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
JPSAnd they scoff at kings, And princes are a derision unto them; They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earth, and take it.
11
ThomsonThen he will change his mind and depart and be pacified.
BrentonThen shall he change his spirit, and he shall pass through, and make an atonement, saying, This strength belongs to my god.
Greekτότε μεταβαλεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ διελεύσεται, καὶ ἐξιλάσεται· αὕτη ἡ ἰσχὺς τῷ θεῷ μου.
KJVThen shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
JPSThen their spirit doth pass over and transgress, And they become guilty: Even they who impute their might unto their god.
12
Thomson(p) This is the majesty which belongeth to My God. Art not Thou from everlasting? O Lord, My God, my Holy One! let us not die. Thou, O Lord, hast appointed this for judgment: and formed it that its correction may work conviction in me.
BrentonArt not thou from the beginning, O Lord God, my Holy One? and surely we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast established it for judgment, and he has formed me to chasten with his correction.
GreekΟὐχὶ σὺ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ἅγιός μου; καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνωμεν· Κύριε εἰς κρίμα τέταχας αὐτὸ, καὶ ἔπλασέ με τοῦ ἐλέγχειν παιδείαν αὐτοῦ.
KJVArt thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
JPSArt not Thou from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, Thou hast ordained them for judgment, And Thou, O Rock, hast established them for correction. .
13
ThomsonThine eye is too pure to behold wicked deeds, or to look on the labours of sorrow. Why lookest Thou upon despisers? Wilt Thou be silent when the wicked swallow up the righteous?
BrentonHis eye is too pure to behold evil doings, and to look upon grievous afflictions: wherefore dost thou look upon despisers? wilt thou be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just?
GreekΚαθαρὸς ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ μὴ ὁρᾷν πονηρὰ, καὶ ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ πόνους ὀδύνης· ἱνατί ἐπιβλέπεις ἐπὶ καταφρονοῦντας; παρασιωπήσῃ ἐν τῷ καταπίνειν ἀσεβῆ τὸν δίκαιον;
KJVThou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
JPSThou that art of eyes too pure to behold evil, And that canst not look on mischief, Wherefore lookest Thou, when they deal treacherously, And holdest Thy peace, when the wicked swalloweth up The man that is more righteous than he;
14
ThomsonWilt Thou make these men like the fishes of the sea, and like those reptiles which have no leader?
BrentonAnd wilt thou make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the reptiles which have no guide?
GreekΚαὶ ποιήσεις τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὡς τοὺς ἰχθύας τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ ὡς τὰ ἑρπετὰ τὰ οὐκ ἔχοντα ἡγούμενον;
KJVAnd makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
JPSAnd makest men as the fishes of the sea, As the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15
ThomsonHe hath drawn up destruction with a hook, and hath dragged out one with a dredge, and enclosed another with his sweep-net. For this cause he will rejoice and his heart will be glad;
BrentonHe has brought up destruction with a hook, and drawn one with a casting net, and caught another in his drags: therefore shall his heart rejoice and be glad.
GreekΣυντέλειαν ἐν ἀγκίστρῳ ἀνέσπασεν, καὶ εἵλκυσεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἀμφιβλήστρῳ, καὶ συνήγαγεν αὐτὸν ἐν ταῖς σαγήναις αὐτοῦ· ἕνεκεν τούτου εὐφρανθήσεται καὶ χαρήσεται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ.
KJVThey take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
JPSThey take up all of them with the angle, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their drag; Therefore they rejoice and exult.
16
Thomsontherefore he will sacrifice to his net and burn incense to his dredge. Because by these he made his food rich and his meats delicious,
BrentonTherefore will he sacrifice to his drag, and burn incense to his casting-net, because by them he has made his portion fat, and his meats choice.
GreekἝνεκεν τούτου θύσει τῇ σαγήνῃ αὐτοῦ, καὶ θυμιάσει τῷ ἀμφιβλήστρῳ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐλίπανε μερίδα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ βρώματα αὐτοῦ ἐκλεκτά.
KJVTherefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
JPSTherefore they sacrifice unto their net, And offer unto their drag; Because by them their portion is fat, And their food plenteous.
17
Thomsonshall he cast his dredge on account of this, and not spare to slay nations continually?
BrentonTherefore will he cast his net, and will not spare to slay the nations continually.
GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀμφιβαλεῖ τὸ ἀμφίβληστρον αὐτοῦ, καὶ διαπαντὸς ἀποκτέννειν ἔθνη οὐ φείσεται.
KJVShall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
JPSShall they therefore empty their net, And not spare to slay the nations continually?