Habacuc Propheta 2
1 [Super custodiam meam stabo, et figam gradum super munitionem: et contemplabor ut videam quid dicatur mihi, et quid respondeam ad arguentem me.]
I will take my stand on my watch-tower, and station myself on a turret. I will watch to see what the Lord will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaint.
2 Et respondit mihi Dominus, et dixit: [Scribe visum, et explana eum super tabulas, ut percurrat qui legerit eum.
Then the Lord answered me and said: Inscribe the vision plainly on tablets, so that even someone running by could read it.
3 Quia adhuc visus procul; et apparebit in finem, et non mentietur: si moram fecerit, exspecta illum, quia veniens veniet, et non tardabit.
Though the vision waits for the time set, it hastens to fulfilment and will not fail; Though it linger long, wait for it. For it surely will come and will not be delayed.
4 Ecce qui incredulus est, non erit recta anima ejus in semetipso; justus autem in fide sua vivet.
The strength of the proud fails, but the upright lives by their faithfulness.
5 Et quomodo vinum potantem decipit, sic erit vir superbus, et non decorabitur: qui dilatavit quasi infernus animam suam, et ipse quasi mors, et non adimpletur: et congregabit ad se omnes gentes, et coacervabit ad se omnes populos. (Sheol h7585)
Wealth is treacherous, the arrogant never have enough. They make their desire as wide as Sheol, are like death, unsatisfied, For they gather to themselves all the nations, bring together to themselves all peoples. (Sheol h7585)
6 Numquid non omnes isti super eum parabolam sument, et loquelam ænigmatum ejus, et dicetur: Væ ei qui multiplicat non sua? usquequo et aggravat contra se densum lutum?
Shouldn’t everyone mock them? sing a taunt-song against them, and say: Woe to the person who amasses what is not theirs, and loads them self down with goods taken in pledge!
7 Numquid non repente consurgent qui mordeant te, et suscitabuntur lacerantes te, et eris in rapinam eis?
Won’t your creditors suddenly rise, and those who will overthrow you awake, and you become their prey?
8 Quia tu spoliasti gentes multas, spoliabunt te omnes qui reliqui fuerint de populis, propter sanguinem hominis, et iniquitatem terræ, civitatis, et omnium habitantium in ea.
For as you have plundered many peoples, the survivors will prey upon you. You have shed blood and committed violence to the earth, peoples and their cities.
9 Væ qui congregat avaritiam malam domui suæ, ut sit in excelso nidus ejus, et liberari se putat de manu mali!
Woe to you who seeks unjust gain for your dynasty, who sets your nest on high to be safe from the reach of misfortune!
10 Cogitasti confusionem domui tuæ; concidisti populos multos, et peccavit anima tua.
You have planned only shame for your dynasty. You have destroyed many peoples, and brought guilt upon yourself;
11 Quia lapis de pariete clamabit, et lignum, quod inter juncturas ædificiorum est, respondebit.
the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timber will answer it.
12 Væ qui ædificat civitatem in sanguinibus, et præparat urbem in iniquitate!
Woe to the person who builds a city by bloodshed, and founds a town by crime
13 Numquid non hæc sunt a Domino exercituum? laborabunt enim populi in multo igne, et gentes in vacuum, et deficient.
while the peoples toil for what fires will consume, and the nations weary themselves for nothing! This the Lord of hosts has said,
14 Quia replebitur terra, ut cognoscant gloriam Domini, quasi aquæ operientes mare.
and the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the seas are full of water.
15 Væ qui potum dat amico suo mittens fel suum, et inebrians ut aspiciat nuditatem ejus!
Woe to him who in fury gives drink to his neighbor to make him drunk, and see him naked.
16 Repletus es ignominia pro gloria; bibe tu quoque, et consopire. Circumdabit te calix dexteræ Domini, et vomitus ignominiæ super gloriam tuam.
You are filled with shame, not glory; drink yourself and be uncovered. The cup from the Lord’s hand will pass in turn to you, and shame will cover your glory!
17 Quia iniquitas Libani operiet te, et vastitas animalium deterrebit eos de sanguinibus hominum, et iniquitate terræ, et civitatis, et omnium habitantium in ea.
For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, the destruction of animals will terrify you, because you shed people’s blood on the earth, destroyed people and their cities.
18 Quid prodest sculptile, quia sculpsit illud fictor suus, conflatile, et imaginem falsam? quia speravit in figmento fictor ejus, ut faceret simulacra muta.
What use is an idol? A human made it, a metal image. It cannot speak, it cannot teach truth, Why does its maker trust it?
19 Væ qui dicit ligno: Expergiscere; Surge, lapidi tacenti! Numquid ipse docere poterit? ecce iste coopertus est auro et argento, et omnis spiritus non est in visceribus ejus.
Woe to the person who says to a block, awake! to a dumb stone, arise! What can it teach? It may be set with gold and silver, but there is no breath at all within it.
20 Dominus autem in templo sancto suo: sileat a facie ejus omnis terra!]
The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!
