Habakkuk 2:6

⁴ Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright — but the righteous will live by faith —

⁵ and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’

⁷ Will not your creditors suddenly arise and those who disturb you awaken? Then you will become their prey.

⁸ Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you— because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

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: Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’
KJV: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
WEB: Won’t all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?’
ASV: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!
DARBY: Shall not all these take up a proverb about him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that loadeth himself with pledges!
BLB: Will not these, all of them, take up a clever saying against him, and a taunt [with] riddles against him, and say, ‘Woe [to] the one multiplying [what is] not unto him. Until when will will he load on humself many pledges?’

ÅB: Skal ikke alle disse synge nidviser og spottesanger om ham, lage gåter om ham og si: Ve den som dynger opp ting som ikke hører ham til - hvor lenge? - og som lesser på seg pantegods!
OTB: Vil ikke alle disse ta opp en hånsang mot ham,
Selv et ordspråk og insinuasjon mot ham og si,
‘Ve ham som øker det som ikke er hans—
Hvor lenge—
Og gjør seg rik med gjeld!’
B1930: Skal ikke alle disse synge nidviser og spottesanger om ham, lage gåter om ham og si: Ve den som dynger op ting som ikke hører ham til - hvor lenge? - og som lesser på sig pantegods!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 50:13
Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will become completely desolate. All who pass through Babylon will be horrified and will hiss at all her wounds.
Read in context
Jeremiah 29:22
Because of them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’
Read in context
Isaiah 14:4–19
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!
Read in context
Numbers 23:7
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
Read in context
Job 20:15–29
He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.
Read in context
Micah 2:4
In that day they will take up a proverb against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation: ‘We are utterly ruined! He has changed the portion of my people. How He has removed it from me! He has allotted our fields to traitors.’”
Read in context
Job 22:6–10
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
Read in context
Ezekiel 32:21
Mighty chiefs will speak from the midst of Sheol about Egypt and her allies: ‘They have come down and lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword.’
Read in context