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Habakkuk 2:5-14

Habakkuk 2:5-14 The Message (MSG)

“Note well: Money deceives. The arrogant rich don’t last. They are more hungry for wealth than the grave is for cadavers. Like death, they always want more, but the ‘more’ they get is dead bodies. They are cemeteries filled with dead nations, graveyards filled with corpses. Don’t give people like this a second thought. Soon the whole world will be taunting them: “‘Who do you think you are— getting rich by stealing and extortion? How long do you think you can get away with this?’ Indeed, how long before your victims wake up, stand up and make you the victim? You’ve plundered nation after nation. Now you’ll get a taste of your own medicine. All the survivors are out to plunder you, a payback for all your murders and massacres. “Who do you think you are— recklessly grabbing and looting, Living it up, acting like king of the mountain, acting above it all, above trials and troubles? You’ve engineered the ruin of your own house. In ruining others you’ve ruined yourself. You’ve undermined your foundations, rotted out your own soul. The bricks of your house will speak up and accuse you. The woodwork will step forward with evidence. “Who do you think you are— building a town by murder, a city with crime? Don’t you know that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies makes sure nothing comes of that but ashes, Makes sure the harder you work at that kind of thing, the less you are? Meanwhile the earth fills up with awareness of GOD’s glory as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:5-14 New Century Version (NCV)

“Just as wine can trick a person, those who are too proud will not last, because their desire is like a grave’s desire for death, and like death they always want more. They gather other nations for themselves and collect for themselves all the countries. But all the nations the Babylonians have hurt will laugh at them. They will make fun of the Babylonians and say, ‘How terrible it will be for the one that steals many things. How long will that nation get rich by forcing others to pay them?’ “One day the people from whom you have taken money will turn against you. They will realize what is happening and make you shake with fear. Then they will take everything you have. Because you have stolen from many nations, those who are left will take much from you. This is because you have killed many people, destroying countries and cities and everyone in them. “How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong, thinking they will live in a safe place and escape harm. Because you have made plans to destroy many people, you have made your own houses ashamed of you. Because of it, you will lose your lives. The stones of the walls will cry out against you, and the boards that support the roof will agree that you are wrong. “How terrible it will be for the nation that kills people to build a city, that wrongs others to start a town. The LORD All-Powerful will send fire to destroy what those people have built; all the nations’ work will be for nothing. Then, just as water covers the sea, people everywhere will know the LORD’s glory.

Habakkuk 2:5-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Moreover, wine is treacherous and betrays the arrogant man, So that he does not stay at home. His appetite is large like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied. He gathers to himself all nations And collects to himself all peoples [as if he owned them]. ¶“Will all these [victims of his greed] not take up a taunting song against him, And in mocking derision against him Say, ‘Woe (judgment is coming) to him who increases that which is not his— How long [will he possess it]? And [woe to him who] makes himself wealthy with loans.’ “Will your creditors not rise up suddenly, And those who collect from you awaken? Then you will become plunder for them. “Because you [king of Babylon] have looted many nations, All peoples who are left will loot you— Because of human bloodshed and for the violence done to the land, To the city and all its inhabitants. ¶“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who obtains wicked gain for his house [and thinks by so doing] To set his nest on high, That he may be rescued from the hand of evil. “You have devised a shameful thing for your house By cutting off and putting an end to many peoples; So you are sinning against your own life and forfeiting it. “For the stone will cry out from the wall [to accuse you—built in sin!] And the rafter will answer it out of the woodwork. ¶“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who builds a city with bloodshed And establishes a town by violence! “Is it not indeed from the LORD of hosts That peoples labor [only] for the fire [that will destroy their work], And nations grow weary for nothing [that is, things which have no lasting value]? “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. [Is 11:9]