TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Habakkuk - Chapter 2
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1I will stand on my watch, Take up my station at the post, And wait to see what He will say to me, What He will reply to my complaint.
al-mish-mar-TEE e-e-MO-da, v'-et-ya-tz'-VAH al-ma-TZOR, va-a-tza-PEH li-ro-OT mah-ye-da-BER-bee, u-mah a-SHEEV al-to-khakh-TEE
אעַל־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י אֶֽעֱמֹ֔דָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה עַל־מָצ֑וֹר וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה לִרְאוֹת֙ מַה־יְדַבֶּר־בִּ֔י וּמָ֥ה אָשִׁ֖יב עַל־תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃
2Hashem answered me and said: Write the prophecy down, Inscribe it clearly on tablets, So that it can be read easily.
vai-ya-a-NE-ni a-do-NAI va-YO-mer ke-TOV kha-ZON u-va-ER al ha-lu-KHOT l'-ma-AN ya-RUTS ko-RAY bo
בוַיַּעֲנֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר כְּתֹ֣ב חָז֔וֹן וּבָאֵ֖ר עַל־הַלֻּח֑וֹת לְמַ֥עַן יָר֖וּץ ק֥וֹרֵא בֽוֹ׃
3For there is yet a prophecy for a set term, A truthful witness for a time that will come. Even if it tarries, wait for it still; For it will surely come, without delay:
kee OD cha-ZON la-mo-ED, v'-ya-FAY-akh la-KAYTZ, v'-LO y'-ka-ZAYV. im yit-ma-MAH chak-KAY-lo, kee-VO ya-VO, LO y'-a-KHAYR.
גכִּ֣י ע֤וֹד חָזוֹן֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֔ד וְיָפֵ֥חַ לַקֵּ֖ץ וְלֹ֣א יְכַזֵּ֑ב אִם־יִתְמַהְמָהּ֙ חַכֵּה־ל֔וֹ כִּי־בֹ֥א יָבֹ֖א לֹ֥א יְאַחֵֽר׃
4Lo, his spirit within him is puffed up, not upright, But the righteous man is rewarded with life For his fidelity.
hi-NAY u-p'-LAH lo ya-sh'-RAH naf-SHO BO v'-tza-DEEK be-e-mu-na-TO yikh-YEH
דהִנֵּ֣ה עֻפְּלָ֔ה לֹא־יָשְׁרָ֥ה נַפְשׁ֖וֹ בּ֑וֹ וְצַדִּ֖יק בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶֽה׃
But the righteous man is rewarded with life for his fidelity
Chaim Nachman Bialik (1873-1934)
With these words, Chavakuk asserts that it is the faith of the righteous person that grants him life. Israel’s acclaimed national poet, Chaim Nachman Bialik, a pioneer of Zionist Hebrew poetry wrote: “This particular people called Israel has, despite all the vicissitudes which for two thousand years have daily, yea hourly, attempted to expel it from its own milieu and uproot it from its spiritual climate — this people, I assert, has accepted upon its body and soul the burdens of eternal allegiance to the Kingdom of the Spirit.” Bialik is alluding to this same idea. Even more than the People of Israel have adhered to their faith as they have lived, it is their adherence to their faith that has granted them life.
5How much less then shall the defiant go unpunished, The treacherous, arrogant man Who has made his maw as wide as Sheol, Who is as insatiable as Death, Who has harvested all the nations And gathered in all the peoples!
v'-af KEE ha-YA-yin bo-GED GE-ver ya-HIR v'-LO yin-VEH a-SHER hir-KHEEV kish-OL naf-SHO v'-HU kha-ma-VET v'-LO yis-BA va-ye-e-SOF e-LAV kol ha-go-YIM va-yik-BOTZ e-LAV kol ha-a-MEEM
הוְאַף֙ כִּֽי־הַיַּ֣יִן בֹּגֵ֔ד גֶּ֥בֶר יָהִ֖יר וְלֹ֣א יִנְוֶ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֩ הִרְחִ֨יב כִּשְׁא֜וֹל נַפְשׁ֗וֹ וְה֤וּא כַמָּ֙וֶת֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֔ע וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף אֵלָיו֙ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
6Surely all these shall pronounce a satire against him, A pointed epigram concerning him. They shall say: Ah, you who pile up what is not yours— How much longer?— And make ever heavier your load of indebtedness!
ha-LO-e-LEH ku-LAM a-LA-yu ma-SHAL yis-A-u u-m'-lee-TZA chi-DOT lo v'-yo-MAR ho-Y ha-mar-BEH lo-lo ad-ma-TAI u-makh-BEED a-LA-yu av-TEET
והֲלוֹא־אֵ֣לֶּה כֻלָּ֗ם עָלָיו֙ מָשָׁ֣ל יִשָּׂ֔אוּ וּמְלִיצָ֖ה חִיד֣וֹת ל֑וֹ וְיֹאמַ֗ר ה֚וֹי הַמַּרְבֶּ֣ה לֹּא־ל֔וֹ עַד־מָתַ֕י וּמַכְבִּ֥יד עָלָ֖יו עַבְטִֽיט׃
7Right suddenly will your creditors arise, And those who remind you will awake, And you will be despoiled by them.
ha-LO pet-TA ya-KU-mu no-sh'-KHE-kha v'-yik-TZU m'-za-ez-E-kha v'-ha-YI-ta lim-shi-SOT la-MO
זהֲל֣וֹא פֶ֗תַע יָק֙וּמוּ֙ נֹֽשְׁכֶ֔יךָ וְיִקְצ֖וּ מְזַעְזְעֶ֑יךָ וְהָיִ֥יתָ לִמְשִׁסּ֖וֹת לָֽמוֹ׃
8Because you plundered many nations, All surviving peoples shall plunder you— For crimes against men and wrongs against lands, Against cities and all their inhabitants.
ki-a-TAH sha-LO-ta go-YIM ra-BEEM y'-sha-LU-kha kol-ye-THER a-MEEM mi-d'-MEI a-DAM va-kha-MAS-e-RETZ kir-YAH v'-kol-yo-SHE-vay BAH. (P)
חכִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה שַׁלּ֙וֹתָ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים יְשָׁלּ֖וּךָ כׇּל־יֶ֣תֶר עַמִּ֑ים מִדְּמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ וַֽחֲמַס־אֶ֔רֶץ קִרְיָ֖ה וְכׇל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
9Ah, you who have acquired gains To the detriment of your own house, Who have destroyed many peoples* In order to set your nest on high To escape disaster!
HOY bo-TZE-a BE-tza RA le-VEE-to, la-SUM ba-ma-ROM KI-no, le-hi-NA-tzel mi-KAF ra.
טה֗וֹי בֹּצֵ֛עַ בֶּ֥צַע רָ֖ע לְבֵית֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם בַּמָּרוֹם֙ קִנּ֔וֹ לְהִנָּצֵ֖ל מִכַּף־רָֽע׃
10You have plotted shame for your own house, And guilt for yourself;
ya-ATZ-ta BO-shet l'-vei-TE-kha k'-TZOT a-MEEM ra-BEEM v'-kho-TE naf-SHE-kha
ייָעַ֥צְתָּ בֹּ֖שֶׁת לְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ קְצוֹת־עַמִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים וְחוֹטֵ֥א נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
11For a stone shall cry out from the wall, And a rafter shall answer it from the woodwork.
ki-E-ven mi-KIR tiz-AK, v'-ka-FIS me-ETZ ya-a-NE-na.
יאכִּי־אֶ֖בֶן מִקִּ֣יר תִּזְעָ֑ק וְכָפִ֖יס מֵעֵ֥ץ יַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃
12Ah, you who have built a town with crime, And established a city with infamy,
HOY bo-NEH eer b'-da-MEEM v'-ko-NEN ki-RYAH b'-a-v'LAH
יבה֛וֹי בֹּנֶ֥ה עִ֖יר בְּדָמִ֑ים וְכוֹנֵ֥ן קִרְיָ֖ה בְּעַוְלָֽה׃
13So that peoples have had to toil for the fire, And nations to weary themselves for naught! Behold, it is from the lord of Hosts:
ha-LO ha-NEH me-ET a-do-NAI t'-va-OT v'-yi-GE-u a-MEEM b'-DEI-ESH u-lu-MEEM b'-DEI-REEK yi-A-fu
יגהֲל֣וֹא הִנֵּ֔ה מֵאֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְיִֽיגְע֤וּ עַמִּים֙ בְּדֵי־אֵ֔שׁ וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים בְּדֵי־רִ֥יק יִעָֽפוּ׃
14For the earth shall be filled With awe for the glory of Hashem As water covers the sea.
KEE ti-ma-LAY ha-A-retz la-DA-at et k'-VOD a-do-NAI ka-MA-yim y'-kha-SU al YAM
ידכִּ֚י תִּמָּלֵ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ לָדַ֖עַת אֶת־כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּמַּ֖יִם יְכַסּ֥וּ עַל־יָֽם׃
2:14 For the earth shall be filled with awe for the glory of Hashem
Yigal Allon (1918-1980)
Here Chavakuk describes a great future for the entire world upon the return of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael. One of Israel’s leading statesmen, Yigal Allon (1918-1980), eloquently defined Modern Zionism for world leaders in an address to the United Nations in 1975: “Zionism is the modern expression of the ancient Jewish heritage. Zionism is the national liberation movement of a people exiled from its historic homeland and dispersed among the nations of the world. Zionism is the redemption of an ancient nation from a tragic lot and the redemption of a land neglected for centuries. Zionism is the revival of an ancient language and culture, in which the vision of a universal peace has been a central theme. Zionism is the embodiment of a unique pioneering spirit, of the dignity of labor, and of enduring human values. Zionism is creating a society, however, imperfect it may still be, which tries to implement the highest ideal of democracy — political, social and cultural – for all the inhabitants of Israel, irrespective of religious belief, race or sex. Zionism is, in sum, the constant and unrelenting effort to realize the national and universal vision of the prophets of Israel.”
15Ah, you who make others drink to intoxication As you pour out your wrath, In order to gaze upon their nakedness!
HOY mash-KEH ray-EY-hu m'-sa-PAY-akh cha-MA-te-KHA v'-af sha-KAYR l'-ma-AN ha-BEET al m'-o-RE-hem
טוה֚וֹי מַשְׁקֵ֣ה רֵעֵ֔הוּ מְסַפֵּ֥חַ חֲמָתְךָ֖ וְאַ֣ף שַׁכֵּ֑ר לְמַ֥עַן הַבִּ֖יט עַל־מְעוֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
16You shall be sated with shame Rather than glory: Drink in your turn and stagger! The cup in the right hand of Hashem Shall come around to you, And disgrace to your glory.
sa-VA-ta ka-LON mi-KA-vod, she-TE gaM-a-TAH ve-he-a-REL, ti-SOV a-LE-kha KOS ye-MEEN a-do-NAI, ve-ki-KA-lon al-ke-VO-de-KHA
טזשָׂבַ֤עְתָּ קָלוֹן֙ מִכָּב֔וֹד שְׁתֵ֥ה גַם־אַ֖תָּה וְהֵעָרֵ֑ל תִּסּ֣וֹב עָלֶ֗יךָ כּ֚וֹס יְמִ֣ין יְהֹוָ֔ה וְקִיקָל֖וֹן עַל־כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
17For the lawlessness against Lebanon shall cover you, The destruction of beasts shall overwhelm you— For crimes against men and wrongs against lands, Against cities and all their inhabitants.
ki kha-MAS le-va-NON ye-ka-SE-kha, ve-SHOD be-HE-mot ye-khi-TAN, mi-de-MEI a-DAM va-kha-MAS e-RETZ, kir-YA ve-khol yo-SHE-vei BAH
יזכִּ֣י חֲמַ֤ס לְבָנוֹן֙ יְכַסֶּ֔ךָּ וְשֹׁ֥ד בְּהֵמ֖וֹת יְחִיתַ֑ן מִדְּמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ וַחֲמַס־אֶ֔רֶץ קִרְיָ֖ה וְכׇל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
18What has the carved image availed, That he who fashioned it has carved it For an image and a false oracle— That he who fashioned his product has trusted in it, Making dumb idols?
mah-ho-IL PE-sel KI pe-sa-LO yo-TZE-ro ma-SE-khah u-mo-RE sha-KER KI va-TAKH yo-TZE ray-TZO a-LA-yu la-a-SOT e-li-LIM il-LE-mim. (Selah)
יחמָה־הוֹעִ֣יל פֶּ֗סֶל כִּ֤י פְסָלוֹ֙ יֹֽצְר֔וֹ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וּמ֣וֹרֶה שָּׁ֑קֶר כִּ֣י בָטַ֞ח יֹצֵ֤ר יִצְרוֹ֙ עָלָ֔יו לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֱלִילִ֥ים אִלְּמִֽים׃
19Ah, you who say, “Wake up” to wood, “Awaken,” to inert stone! Can that give an oracle? Why, it is encased in gold and silver, But there is no breath inside it.
HOY o-MER la-ETZ ha-KEE-tza, U-ri l'-E-ven DU-mam, HU yo-REH, hi-NEH-HU ta-FUSH za-HAV va-KE-sef, v'-KOL-ru-AKH AYN b'-kir-BO.
יטה֣וֹי אֹמֵ֤ר לָעֵץ֙ הָקִ֔יצָה ע֖וּרִי לְאֶ֣בֶן דּוּמָ֑ם ה֣וּא יוֹרֶ֔ה הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא תָּפוּשׂ֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף וְכׇל־ר֖וּחַ אֵ֥ין בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃
20But Hashem in His holy Abode— Be silent before Him all the earth!
va-a-do-NAI b'-he-KHAL kod-SHO, ha-SAY mi-PA-naiv kol ha-A-retz. (s)
כוַיהֹוָ֖ה בְּהֵיכַ֣ל קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ הַ֥ס מִפָּנָ֖יו כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
