1 I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message* that the Lord gave me.

2 Our Lord, how long must I beg

for your help

before you listen?

How long before you save us

from all this violence?

3 Why do you make me watch

such terrible injustice?

Why do you allow violence,

lawlessness, crime, and cruelty

to spread everywhere?

4 Laws cannot be enforced;

justice is always the loser;

criminals crowd out honest people

and twist the laws around.

5 * Look and be amazed

at what's happening

among the nations!

Even if you were told,

you would never believe

what's taking place now.

6 * I am sending the Babylonians.

They are fierce and cruel—

marching across the land,

conquering cities and towns.

7 How fearsome and frightening.

Their only laws and rules

are the ones they make up.

8 Their cavalry troops are faster

than leopards,

more ferocious than wolves

hunting at sunset,

and swifter than hungry eagles

suddenly swooping down.

9 They are eager to destroy,*

and they gather captives

like handfuls of sand.

10 They make fun of rulers

and laugh at fortresses,

while building dirt mounds

so they can capture cities.*

11 Then suddenly they disappear

like a gust of wind—

those sinful people who worship

their own strength.

12 Holy Lord God, mighty rock,*

you are eternal,

and we* are safe from death.

You are using those Babylonians

to judge and punish others.*

13 But you can't stand sin or wrong.

So don't sit by in silence

while they gobble up people

who are better than they are.

14 The people you put on this earth

are like fish or reptiles

without a leader.

15 Then an enemy comes along

and takes them captive

with hooks and nets.

It makes him so happy

16 that he offers sacrifices

to his fishing nets,

because they make him rich

and provide choice foods.

17 Will he keep hauling in his nets

and destroying nations

without showing mercy?