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Habakkuk, 2

1. I shall stand at my post, I shall station myself on my watch-tower, watching to see what he will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaints.

1. I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2. Then Yahweh answered me and said, 'Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read.

2. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3. For the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and it will not lie; although it may take some time, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long.

3. For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

4. 'You see, anyone whose heart is not upright will succumb, but the upright will live through faithfulness.'

4. Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

5. Now, surely, wealth is treacherous! He is arrogant, for ever on the move, with appetite as large as Sheol and as insatiable as Death, gathering in all the nations, and making a harvest of all peoples.

5. Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, [he is] a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and [is] as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

6. Are not the peoples all bound to satirise and make up cryptic riddles about him? As for instance: Disaster to anyone who amasses goods not his (for how long?) and to anyone who weighs himself down with goods taken in pledge!

6. Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

7. Will not your creditors suddenly stand up, will not those who make you shiver wake up, and you will fall a prey to them?

7. Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

8. Since you have plundered many nations, all the nations that remain will plunder you, because of the bloodshed and violence done to the country, to the city and to all who live in it.

8. Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

9. Disaster to anyone who amasses ill-gotten gains for his house, so as to fix his nest on high and so evade the reach of misfortune!

9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

10. You have conspired to bring shame on your house: by overthrowing many peoples you have worked your own ruin.

10. Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned [against] thy soul.

11. For the very stone will protest from the wall, and the beam will respond from the framework.

11. For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

12. Disaster to anyone who builds a town with bloodshed and founds a city on wrong-doing!

12. Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

13. Is it not thanks to Yahweh Sabaoth that the peoples' toil is fuel for the fire, and the nations' labour came to nothing?

13. Behold, [is it] not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

14. But the earth will be full of the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh as the waters cover the depths of the sea.

14. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

15. Disaster to anyone who makes his neighbours drink, pouring out his poison until they are drunk, so that he can see them naked!

15. Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him] drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

16. You are full of shame, not glory! Your turn now to drink and show your foreskin. The cup in Yahweh's right hand comes round to you, and disgrace will overshadow your glory.

16. Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing [shall be] on thy glory.

17. For the violence done to the Lebanon will overwhelm you and the massacre of animals will terrify you, because of the bloodshed and violence done to the country, to the city and to all who live in it. Disaster to anyone who says to the log, 'Wake up!', to the dumb stone, 'On your feet!' (This is the prophecy!) Look, he is encased in gold and silver,-- but not a breath of life inside it!

17. For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, [which] made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

18. What use is a sculpted image that a sculptor should make it? - a metal image, a lying instructor! And why does the image-maker put his trust in it, that he should make dumb idols?

18. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

19.

19. Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

20. But Yahweh is in his holy Temple: let the whole earth be silent before him.

20. But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.



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Notes de bas de page:

2:1-3 - Habakkuk presents his complaint to God, hoping for an answer. God reveals a vision of the future, showing that justice will be served, but in God's time, and faith is essential for perseverance. The famous passage "the righteous shall live by faith" is a foundation for understanding the relationship between trust in God and the promises of justice (see also Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 10:37-38).

2:4-5 - The statement that "the righteous shall live by faith" (v. 4) becomes a foundational principle of the Christian faith, being cited by Paul in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. God declares that the arrogance of the wicked will be punished, showing that confidence in riches and power is empty. Humility is presented as an essential virtue (see also 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and James 4:6).

2:6-14 - God condemns greed and oppression, declaring that the Babylonians who trusted in their wealth and power would be humbled. The vision of judgment on the nations emphasizes that true justice is not measured by strength, but by faithfulness to God. The passage warns against idolatry and the oppression of the poor (see also Isaiah 14:11-12 and Ezekiel 28:5).

2:15-17 - God's condemnation of drunkenness and the exploitation of others reveals His contempt for practices that destroy human life. Babylon, which thrives on violence and drunkenness, is destined for judgment. This critique of social and moral exploitation is central to understanding God's justice in the world (see also Jeremiah 51:7-10 and Revelation 18:3).

2:18-20 - The critique of idolatry emphasizes that gods made by human hands are powerless. In contrast, God, who is in His temple, deserves all reverence. The passage affirms that true wisdom and power come from God, who is worthy of worship (see also Isaiah 44:9-20 and Revelation 22:8-9).

Versets liés à Habakkuk, 2:

Habakkuk chapter 2 presents God's response and woes against the wicked. How does God answer the prophet's questions? This crucial text reveals the principle of living by faith and pronounces judgment on the proud and unrighteous. Habakkuk receives a vision of the final triumph of divine justice. The chapter includes five woes against various sins, emphasizing the certainty of God's judgment. Reflect with us on five biblical passages that illuminate the themes of faith and justice in this in-depth chapter.

Galatians 3:11: "It is evident that before God no one is justified by the law, since 'the just will live by faith'." - Paul again quotes Habakkuk 2:4, emphasizing the central importance of this verse in New Testament theology.

James 5:4: "See, the wages of the workers who mowed your fields, and which you withheld by fraud, are crying out against you. The lament of the reapers reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." - This verse echoes the condemnation in Habakkuk 2:9-11 against those who accumulate wealth unjustly.

1 Corinthians 12:2: "You know that when you were pagans, in one way or another you were led to worship dumb idols." - Paul alludes to the futility of idols, a theme addressed in Habakkuk 2:18-19.

Hebrews 10:37-38: "For soon, very soon, 'He who comes will come, and will not delay. But my righteous will live by faith. And if he goes back, I won't like him.'" - The author of Hebrews quotes Habakkuk 2:3-4, applying it to the hope of Christ's coming.

Micah 2:12: "O Jacob, I will surely gather all your people together; I will gather the remnant of Israel. I will gather them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in their pasture; the place will be full of people." - This promise of restoration reflects the theme of hope that concludes Habakkuk 2, preparing for chapter 3.

FAQ:

What does God instruct Habakkuk to do while he waits for God's answer?

God instructs Habakkuk to write down the vision clearly and expectantly, trusting that it will be fulfilled in due time. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

What does "the just shall live by faith" mean in Habakkuk 2:4?

The righteous shall live by faith means that the righteous should trust in God, even in the face of adversity, waiting for His action and justice. This verse is a central foundation of Christianity. (Habakkuk 2:4)

How is God's view of the judgment of the wicked described in Habakkuk 2?

God's vision of the judgment of the wicked reveals that the Babylonians' wealth and oppression will be punished. God justifies the righteous and punishes the wicked. (Habakkuk 2:5-20)

What does God condemn regarding greed and oppression in Habakkuk 2?

God condemns the greed and oppression of the wicked, stating that nations that exploit others will be destroyed for their unjust actions. (Habakkuk 2:6-8)

How does Habakkuk describe God's justice in response to human wickedness?

Habakkuk describes God's justice as infallible and unchanging, believing that He will bring vengeance and restoration in perfect timing. (Habakkuk 2:14)


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