1:1   I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the LORD gave me.

1:2   Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence?

1:3   Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?

1:4   Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around.

1:5   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.

1:6   I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel-- marching across the land, conquering cities and towns.

1:7   How fearsome and frightening. Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up.

1:8   Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards, more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset, and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down.

1:9   They are eager to destroy, and they gather captives like handfuls of sand.

1:10   They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses, while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities.

1:11   Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind-- those sinful people who worship their own strength.

1:12   Holy LORD God, mighty rock, you are eternal, and we are safe from death. You are using those Babylonians to judge and punish others.

1:13   But you can't stand sin or wrong. So don't sit by in silence while they gobble down people who are better than they are.

1:14   The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader.

1:15   Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive with hooks and nets. It makes him so happy

1:16   that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods.

1:17   Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations without showing mercy?