The Written Vision, 'The Righteous Live by Faith,' and Woes on the Proud
Habakkuk 2:2-20
2The LORD answered me and said, "Write the vision and make it plain upon the tablets, so that the one who reads it may run."3For the vision is still for the appointed time; it hastens to the end and will not lie. If it delays, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.4Behold, his soul is swollen within him and is not upright, but the righteous one will live by his faithfulness.5Moreover, wine betrays the proud man, and he will not remain at rest, because he has enlarged his soul like Sheol; he is like death and is never satisfied. He gathers to himself all the nations and collects to himself all the peoples.6Will not all these raise a proverb against him and utter mocking riddles about him, saying, "Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long?—and loads himself with debt."7Will not your biters suddenly arise, and will not your tremblers awaken, so that you become plunder for them?8Because you have looted many nations, all the rest of the peoples will loot you, on account of the blood of man and the violence done to the land, the town, and all who dwell in it.9Woe to him who gains evil profit for his house, setting his nest on high to be delivered from the hand of evil.10You have planned shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and sinning against your soul.11For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the rafter will answer from the wood.12Woe to him who builds a city with blood and establishes a town by injustice.13Is it not from the LORD of Hosts that peoples labor for what is consumed by fire and that nations weary themselves for what is vain?14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.15Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring out your bottle, and also making him drunk, so that you may gaze on their nakedness.16You will be filled with dishonor instead of glory. Drink, you also, and be exposed; the cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.17For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, and the destruction of beasts will terrify you, because of the blood of man and the violence done to the land, the town, and all who dwell in it.18What profit is an idol, since its maker has carved it, a cast image and a teacher of lies, when the craftsman trusts in his own work to make mute idols?19Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake," and to silent stone, "Arise." It will teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no spirit at all within it.20But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.