Habakkuk 2:6

⁴ Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

⁵ Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

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!

⁷ Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

⁸ Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

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 it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
Read in context
Jeremiah 29:22
And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
Read in context
Isaiah 14:4–19
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Read in context
Numbers 23:7
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
Read in context
Job 20:15–29
He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
Read in context
Micah 2:4
In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
Read in context
Job 22:6–10
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Read in context
Ezekiel 32:21
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
Read in context