Habakkuk 1:8

6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.
KJV
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
WEB
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
ASV
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.
DARBY
And their horses are swifter than the leopards, and are more agile than the evening wolves; and their horsemen prance proudly, and their horsemen come from afar: they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.
BLB
Their horses are swifter than leopards and fiercer than wolves of the evening; their horsemen spring about; and their horsemen come from afar, and they fly like the eagle hurrying to devour.
ÅB
Dets hester er raskere enn leoparder og skarpere til å springe enn ulver om kvelden; dets ryttere sprenger fram, dets ryttere kommer langt borte fra, de flyver som en ørn når den styrter seg over sitt rov.
OTB
Deres hester er raskere enn leoparder,
mer fryktinngytende enn kveldsulver.
Deres ryttere presser på stolt;
deres ryttere kommer fra det fjerne.
De flyr som en ørn som haster for å sluke.
B1930
Dets hester er raskere enn leoparder og skarpere til å springe enn ulver om aftenen; dets ryttere sprenger frem, dets ryttere kommer langt borte fra, de flyver som en ørn når den styrter sig over sitt rov.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 4:13

    Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

    Read in context
  • Zephaniah 3:3

    Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 28:49

    The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

    Read in context
  • Hosea 8:1

    Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 17:3

    And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 5:6

    Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 17:12

    Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

    Read in context
  • Matthew 24:28

    For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

    Read in context