Hab 1:12-17 Habakkuk complains to God again. “LORD, you have chosen the Babylonians to punish people ... Your eyes are too good to look at evil; you cannot stand to see those who do wrong. So how can you put up with those evil people? … How can you be quiet when the wicked swallow up people who are better than they are?” (Habakkuk 1:12-13)
Hab 2:1-4 The LORD replies, “The evil nation (Babylon) is very proud of itself; it is not living as it should. But those who are right with God will live by trusting in him.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
A Babylonian Cylinder Seal
depicting the king making
an animal offering to the
Sun god Shamash
(Hjaltland Collection)
God assures Habakkuk that, although they appear to be succeeding at the present time, the Babylonians will be punished in the future for their wickedness.
Hab 2:5-14 Habakkuk rails against the Babylonians. “How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong... that kills people to build a city, that wrongs others just to start a town. The LORD All-powerful will send fire to destroy what those people have built… Then, just as water covers the sea, people everywhere will know the LORD's glory.” (Habakkuk 2:12-14)
Hab 2:15-20 "You Babylonians will be filled with disgrace... The cup of anger from the LORD's right hand is coming around to you." (Habakkuk 2:16)
Hab 3:1-19 Habakkuk prays, “LORD, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. Lord, do great things once again in our time… But I will wait patiently for the day of disaster that will come to the people who attack us.” (Habakkuk 3:2&16)
Hab 3:17-19. Habakkuk concludes, "There may be no olives growing and no food growing in the fields. There may be no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad in the LORD; I will rejoice in God my Saviour." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)