Habakkuk asks Yahweh how long he must cry for help without being heard or saved.

Habakkuk is being made to see iniquity and trouble, and destruction and violence are before him, along with strife and contention.

Perverted justice goes forth.

Yahweh says he is raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift nation, to march through the earth and seize territory that is not theirs.

The Chaldeans are dreadful and terrifying people.

The Chaldeans gather captives like the sand.

The Chaldeans mock at other kings and rulers.

Yahweh has appointed the Chaldeans for judgment and established them for correcting his people.

Habakkuk uses the titles “my God,” “Holy One,” and “Rock” for Yahweh.

Habakkuk asks Yahweh why he looks at treacherous people and remains silent when the wicked devour those more righteous than themselves.

They rejoice because they gather up people like fish, pulling them in with nets and dragnets.

Habakkuk compares the gathering of people to a fisherman catching fish with a hook, a net, and a dragnet.

Habakkuk asks whether the Chaldeans will spare the nations or keep destroying them without mercy.

Habakkuk was watching carefully to see what Yahweh would say to him and what he would respond concerning his complaint.

Yahweh told Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain on the tablets.

Yahweh assured Habakkuk that the vision was for the appointed time, that it would not lie, and that even if it seemed to delay, it would certainly come and would not be late.

Yahweh said the righteous will live by his faithfulness.

The taunt says that Sheol and death are never satisfied, just as the arrogant conqueror is never satisfied and keeps gathering more nations and peoples to himself.

The taunt says that the remainder of the peoples will plunder him in return, because of the bloodshed and violence he brought upon lands, cities, and their people.

The woe says that he sets his nest on high thinking he will be delivered from evil, but he has only counseled shame for his house.

The taunt says that a stone will cry out from the wall, and a beam from the wood will answer it.

The woe says that the one who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town with injustice will see the peoples’ labor go up in fire and the nations weary themselves for nothing.

Yahweh promises that the earth will be filled with knowing the glory of Yahweh, just as waters cover the sea.

The woe says that he pours out his wineskin and makes his neighbor drunk in order to look upon their nakedness.

The cup of the right hand of Yahweh will come around to him, and he will receive disgrace instead of glory.

He is placing his trust in his own handiwork, making mute idols that cannot speak.

All the earth must be silent before Yahweh.

Having heard Yahweh’s report, Habakkuk is afraid.

Habakkuk asks Yahweh to remember compassion in his wrath.

When God came, plague went before him and fiery bolts went out at his feet.

Yahweh made the nations spring apart when he looked at them.

Yahweh went out for the salvation of his people and his anointed one.

Yahweh strikes the head from the house of the wicked.

As they came to scatter Yahweh’s people, the wicked warriors exulted as if to devour the afflicted in secret.

Habakkuk is waiting quietly for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack them.

Habakkuk describes fig trees not blossoming, no produce on the vines, the olive failing, fields producing no food, the flock cut off, and no cattle in the stalls.

Despite the hardships, Habakkuk will exult in Yahweh and rejoice in the God of his salvation.

Yahweh the Lord is Habakkuk’s strength, makes his feet like a deer’s, and makes him tread on his high places.