Habakkuk 2:9
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.
Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
10 You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples and forfeiting your life.
11 For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.
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
- Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
- KJV
- Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
- WEB
- Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
- ASV
- Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
- DARBY
- Woe to him that getteth iniquitous gain to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the grasp of evil!
- BLB
- Woe [to] the one biting off evil gain for his house, to set his nest in the heights, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
- ÅB
- Ve den som jager etter skammelig vinning for sitt hus, for å bygge sitt rede i høyden, for å redde seg fra ulykkens hånd!
- OTB
- Ve ham som oppnår urettferdig vinning for sitt hus,
For å sette sitt rede høyt,
For å unnslippe fra katastrofens rekkevidde! - B1930
- Ve den som jager efter skammelig vinning for sitt hus, for å bygge sitt rede i høiden, for å redde sig fra ulykkens hånd!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 49:16
The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:13–19
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,
Read in contextProverbs 18:11–12
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
Read in context1 Kings 21:2–4
So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”
Read in contextObadiah 1:4
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
Read in context1 Kings 21:19–24
Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
Read in context2 Kings 5:20–27
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
Read in contextActs 1:17–25
He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
Read in context