Habakkuk 2

King James Version

Full text for Habakkuk Chapter 2

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.

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

3For 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.

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

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:

6Shall 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!

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

8Because 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.

9Woe 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!

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

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

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

13Behold, [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?

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

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!

16Thou 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.

17For 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.

18What 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?

19Woe 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.

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Habakkuk is commanded to write down a divine vision, assuring its certain fulfillment and declaring that the just shall live by faith, while the proud will fall. The chapter then pronounces five woes against the wicked oppressor, condemning their insatiable greed, violent practices, shaming of others, and idolatry. It concludes by asserting the ultimate sovereignty of the LORD, before whom all the earth must be silent.

Medium Summary

The prophet Habakkuk begins by standing on his watch, awaiting a divine response, which comes with a command to plainly record the vision for future understanding, assuring its certain fulfillment. Central to this vision is the declaration that the proud and unrighteous will not prosper, but "the just shall live by his faith." The chapter then details five "woes" against the oppressive nation, condemning their insatiable greed and expansion, their covetousness and violent building practices, their shameful exploitation of others, and their reliance on lifeless idols. The LORD declares that the labor of the wicked will be in vain, and their violence will return upon them. Ultimately, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory, contrasting with the vanity of human wickedness, and all are called to silence before the LORD in His holy temple.

Long Summary

Habakkuk chapter two opens with the prophet positioning himself on his watchtower, diligently awaiting the LORD's answer to his previous lament. The LORD responds by instructing Habakkuk to clearly inscribe the vision upon tablets, ensuring its accessibility and swift understanding for all who read it. This divine message emphasizes that the vision, though appearing to tarry, is appointed for a specific time and will unfailingly come to pass. A pivotal declaration is made concerning the contrast between the unrighteous, whose soul is not upright, and the righteous, who "shall live by his faith." Following this foundational principle, the chapter pronounces a series of five distinct "woes" directed against the wicked oppressor, implicitly Babylon, for their manifold transgressions. The first woe condemns their insatiable pride, likened to hell and death, as they greedily gather nations and peoples, only to be spoiled in turn by those they oppressed. The second woe targets their covetousness, building houses and establishing security through ill-gotten gain and violence, with even the stones and timbers of their structures testifying against them. The third woe denounces those who build cities and towns with bloodshed and iniquity, highlighting the futility of such labor, as it is ultimately "of the LORD of hosts" that people toil for vanity. This woe is juxtaposed with the promise that the earth shall eventually be filled with the knowledge of the LORD's glory. The fourth woe addresses the sin of shaming neighbors by making them drunk to exploit their vulnerability, proclaiming that the perpetrator will be filled with shame and drink from the cup of the LORD's wrath. Finally, the fifth woe condemns idolatry, declaring graven and molten images to be profitless, dumb teachers of lies, incapable of breath or life, and utterly useless for trust. The chapter concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's supreme authority: "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him," underscoring His sovereignty over all creation.

Core Concepts

  • The Vision and Its CertaintyGod commands Habakkuk to write down the vision plainly, assuring that it has an appointed time and will surely come to pass, even if it seems to tarry.
  • Living by FaithA foundational principle is established, stating that while the proud and unrighteous will stumble, "the just shall live by his faith."
  • Woes Against OppressionThe chapter pronounces five distinct woes against the wicked oppressor, condemning their insatiable greed, violent acquisition of wealth, exploitation of others, and idolatry.
  • Futility of Wicked LaborThose who build and establish through bloodshed and iniquity are declared to labor in vain, as their efforts are ultimately for vanity and will lead to their own downfall.
  • Divine RetributionThe oppressor's actions, such as spoiling nations and shaming others, will result in divine judgment, where they will be spoiled in turn and filled with shame.
  • Condemnation of IdolatryGraven and molten images are denounced as profitless, dumb, and false teachers, emphasizing their inability to provide help or breath, contrasting with the living God.
  • Sovereignty of the LORDThe chapter culminates with the declaration that "the LORD is in his holy temple," commanding all the earth to keep silence before Him, asserting His ultimate authority and presence.