THE LORD'S Answer

       Then THE LORD replied:

       "Write down the revelation

          and make it plain on tablets

          so that a herald may run with it.

       For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

          it speaks of the end

          and will not prove false.

       Though it linger, wait for it;

          it will certainly come and will not delay.

       "See, he is puffed up;

          his desires are not upright--

          but the righteous will live by his faith--

       indeed, wine betrays him;

          he is arrogant and never at rest.

       Because he is as greedy as the grave

          and like death is never satisfied,

       he gathers to himself all the nations

          and takes captive all the peoples.

       "Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

       " 'Woe to him who piles up stolen goods

          and makes himself wealthy by extortion!

          How long must this go on?'

       Will not your debtors suddenly arise?

          Will they not wake up and make you tremble?

          Then you will become their victim.

       Because you have plundered many nations,

          the peoples who are left will plunder you.

       For you have shed man's blood;

          you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

       "Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain

          to set his nest on high,

          to escape the clutches of ruin!

       You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,

          shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.

       The stones of the wall will cry out,

          and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

       "Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

          and establishes a town by crime!

       Has not THE LORD ALMIGHTY determined

          that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire,

          that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

       For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of THE LORD,

          as the waters cover the sea.

       "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,

          pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,

          so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.

       You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

          Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed!

       The cup from THE LORD'S right hand is coming around to you,

          and disgrace will cover your glory.

       The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

          and your destruction of animals will terrify you.

       For you have shed man's blood;

          you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

       "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it?

          Or an image that teaches lies?

       For he who makes it trusts in his own creation;

          he makes idols that cannot speak.

       Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!'

          Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!'

       Can it give guidance?

          It is covered with gold and silver;

          there is no breath in it.

       But THE LORD is in HIS holy temple;

          let all the earth be silent before HIM."

The Book of Habakkuk: chapter 2, verses 2 - 20