1
The burde which Habacuc the prophete dyd see.
2
O Lorde, howe long shall I crye, and thou wilt not heare?
[euen] crye out vnto thee for violence, and thou wilt not helpe?
3
Why doest thou shew me iniquitie, and cause me to beholde sorowe?
for spoyling and violence are before me, & there are that rayse vp stryfe and contention,
4
Therfore the law is dissolued, & iudgement doth neuer go foorth: for the wicked doth compasse about the righteous, therfore wrong iudgement proceedeth.
5
Behold among the heathen, and regarde, and wonder, and marueyll: for I will worke a worke in your dayes, ye will not beleue it though it be tolde you.
6
For lo, I rayse vp the Chaldeans, that bitter and furious nation, whiche shall go vpon the breadth of the land, to possesse the dwelling places that are not theirs.
7
They are terrible and fearfull: their iudgement and their dignitie shall procede of them selues.
8
Their horses also are swifter then the leopardes, and are more fierce then the wolues in the euening, and their horsemen shall come from farre: they shall flee as the Egle hasting to meate.
9
They come all to spoyle: before their faces shalbe an eastwinde, and they shall gather the captiuitie as the sande.
10
And they shall mocke the kinges, and the princes shalbe a scorne vnto them: they shall deride euery stronghold, for they shall gather dust, and take it.
11
Then shall they take a courage, and transgresse, and do wickedly, [imputing] this their power vnto their god.
12
Art not thou of olde, O Lord my God, my holy one?
we shall not dye, O Lord thou hast ordeined them for iudgement, and O God thou hast established them for correction.
13
Thou art of pure eyes, and canst not see euyl, thou canst not behold wickednesse: wherfore [then] doest thou loke vpo the transgressours, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked deuoureth the man that is more righteous then he?
14
And makest men as the fishe of the sea, and as the creeping thinges that haue no ruler ouer them.
15
They take vp all with the angle, they catche it in their net, and gather it in their yarne: wherof they reioyce and are glad.
16
Therfore they sacrifice vnto their net, and burne incense vnto their yarne: because by them their portion is fat, and their meate plenteous.
17
Shall they therfore stretche out their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?