In the time of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the country of Judah. Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned against Nebuchadnezzar and broke away from his rule.
Habakkuk 1:6 - Easy To Read Version I will make the Babylonian people a strong nation. Those people are mean and powerful fighters. They will march across the earth. They will take houses and cities that don’t belong to them. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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 their's. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition For behold, I am rousing up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation who march through the breadth of the earth to take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them. [II Kings 24:2.] American Standard Version (1901) For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs. Common English Bible I am about to rouse the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, which travels throughout the earth to possess dwelling places it does not own. Catholic Public Domain Version For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift people, marching across the width of the earth, to possess tabernacles not their own. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift nation, marching upon the breadth of the earth, to possess the dwelling places that are not their own. |
In the time of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the country of Judah. Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned against Nebuchadnezzar and broke away from his rule.
The Lord sent groups of Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites to fight against Jehoiakim. The Lord sent those groups to destroy Judah. This happened just like the Lord said. The Lord used his servants the prophets to say those things.
So God brought the King of Babylon to attack the people of Judah and Jerusalem. {\cf2\super [455]} The king of Babylon killed the young men even when they were in the temple. He didn’t have mercy on the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The king of Babylon killed young and old people. He killed men and women. He killed sick and healthy people. God permitted Nebuchadnezzar to punish the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
King Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon attacked Judah. He made Jehoiakim a prisoner and put bronze chains on him. Then Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiakim to Babylon.
\{So the people of Tyre say,\}\par “The people of Babylon will help us!”\par But look at the land of the Chaldeans! {\cf2\super [227]} \par Babylon is not a country now.\par Assyria {\cf2\super [228]} attacked Babylon and built war towers around it.\par The soldiers took everything from\par the beautiful houses.\par Assyria made Babylon\par a place for wild animals.\par They changed Babylon\par into a place of ruins.\par
Jerusalem, look!\par The enemy is coming from the north! {\cf2\super [114]} \par Where is your flock? {\cf2\super [115]} \par God gave that beautiful flock to you.\par \{You were supposed to care for that flock.\}\par
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have weapons of war in your hands. You are using those weapons to defend yourselves against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians. {\cf2\super [168]} But I will make those weapons worthless.
After that happens,’” this message is from the Lord, “‘I will give Zedekiah king of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I will also give Zedekiah’s officials to Nebuchadnezzar. Some of the people in Jerusalem will not die from the terrible sicknesses. Some of the people will not be killed with swords. Some of them will not die from hunger. But I will give those people to Nebuchadnezzar. I will let Judah’s enemy win. Nebuchadnezzar’s army wants to kill the people of Judah. So the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be killed with swords. Nebuchadnezzar will not show any mercy. He will not feel sorry for those people.’
So I will soon send for all the family groups of the north. {\cf2\super [202]} ” This message is from the Lord. “I will soon send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He is my servant. I will bring those people against the land of Judah and against the people of Judah. I will bring them against all the nations around you too. I will destroy all of those countries. I will make those lands like an empty desert forever. People will see those countries, and whistle at how badly they were destroyed.
At that time a message will be given\par to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:\par “A hot wind blows from the bare hills.\par It comes from the desert to my people.\par It is not like the gentle wind that farmers use\par to separate the grain from the chaff. {\cf2\super [24]} \par
Raise the signal flag toward Zion. {\cf2\super [21]} \par Run for your lives!\par Don’t wait!\par Do this because I am bringing disaster from the north. {\cf2\super [22]} \par I am bringing terrible destruction.”\par
So put on sackcloth {\cf2\super [23]} and cry out loud!\par Why? Because the Lord is angry at us.”\par
Family of Israel, this message\par is from the Lord,\par “I will soon bring a nation from far away\par to attack you.\par It is an old nation.\par It is an ancient nation.\par The people of that nation speak a language\par that you don’t know.\par You can’t understand what they say.\par
So I will give their wives to other men.\par I will give their fields to new owners.\par All the people of Israel want\par more and more money.\par All the people,\par from the least important\par to most important people,\par are like that.\par All the people,\par from prophets to priests,\par tell lies.\par
They will bring a crowd of people and throw rocks at you to kill you. Then they will cut you in pieces with their swords.
I will pour out my anger against you. My anger will burn you like a hot wind. I will hand you over to cruel men. {\cf2\super [168]} Those men are skilled at killing people.
I will bring strangers to fight against you.\par They are most terrible among the nations!\par They will pull out their swords\par and use them against the beautiful things\par that your wisdom brought you.\par They will ruin your glory.\par
Strangers—the most terrible people in the world—cut it down and scattered its branches on the mountains and in the valleys. Its broken limbs drifted down the rivers flowing through that land. There was no more shadow under that tree, so all the people left.
The army will destroy the land\par like a burning fire.\par In front of them, the land will be like\par the Garden of Eden.\par Behind them, the land will be like\par an empty desert.\par Nothing will escape them.\par