< Habacuc Propheta 1 >

1 Onus, quod vidit Habacuc propheta.
The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 Usquequo Domine clamabo, et non exaudies? vociferabor ad te vim patiens, et non salvabis?
LORD, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you "Violence." and will you not save?
3 Quare ostendisti mihi iniquitatem, et laborem, videre praedam, et iniustitiam contra me? Quare respicis contemptores, et taces, conculcante impio iustiorem se? Et facies homines quasi pisces maris; et quasi reptilia non habentia ducem; et factum est iudicium, et contradictio potentior.
Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.
4 Propter hoc lacerata est lex, et non pervenit usque ad finem iudicium: quia impius praevalet adversus iustum, propterea egreditur iudicium perversum.
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.
5 Aspicite in gentibus, et videte: admiramini, et obstupescite: quia opus factum est in diebus vestris, quod nemo credet cum narrabitur.
"Look, you scoffers, and watch, and be utterly amazed, and perish; for I am working a work in your days which you will not believe, though it is told you.
6 Quia ecce ego suscitabo Chaldaeos, gentem amaram et velocem, ambulantem super latitudinem terrae, ut possideat tabernacula non sua.
For, look, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places not his own.
7 Horribilis, et terribilis est: ex semetipsa iudicium, et onus eius egredietur.
He is feared and dreaded. His judgment will be from himself, and his authority will come from himself.
8 Leviores pardis equi eius, et velociores lupis vespertinis: et diffundentur equites eius: equites namque eius de longe venient, volabunt quasi aquila festinans ad comedendum.
His horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. And their horsemen press proudly on, and, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
9 Omnes ad praedam venient, facies eorum ventus urens: et congregabit quasi arenam, captivitatem.
All of them come for violence. Their hordes face the desert. He gathers prisoners like sand.
10 Et ipse de regibus triumphabit, et tyranni ridiculi eius erunt: ipse super omnem munitionem ridebit, et comportabit aggerem, et capiet eam.
And he will scoff at kings and deride rulers. He laughs at every stronghold, for he builds up an earthen ramp, and takes it.
11 Tunc mutabitur spiritus, et pertransibit; et corruet: haec est fortitudo eius dei sui.
Then he sweeps by like the wind, and goes on. He is indeed guilty, whose strength is his god."
12 Numquid non tu a principio Domine Deus meus, sancte meus, et non moriemur? Domine in iudicium posuisti eum: et fortem ut corriperes, fundasti eum.
Aren't you from everlasting, LORD my God, my Holy One? We will not die. LORD, you have appointed him for judgment. You, Rock, have established him to punish.
13 Mundi sunt oculi tui, ne videas malum, et respicere ad iniquitatem non poteris. quare respicis super iniqua agentes, et taces devorante impio iustiorem se?
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
14 Et facies homines quasi pisces maris, et quasi reptile non habens principem.
and make men like the fish of the sea, like the crawling creatures, that have no ruler over them?
15 Totum in hamo sublevavit, traxit illud in sagena sua, et congregavit in rete suum. Super hoc laetabitur et exultabit.
He takes up all of them with the hook, and he catches them in his net and gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he rejoices and is glad.
16 propterea immolabit sagenae suae, et sacrificabit reti suo: quia in ipsis incrassata est pars eius, et cibus eius electus.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
17 Propter hoc ergo expandit sagenam suam, et semper interficere Gentes non cessat.
Will he therefore continually empty his net, killing the nations without mercy?

< Habacuc Propheta 1 >