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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Contemporary English Version

Habakkuk 2:9

You're doomed! You made your family rich at the expense of others. You even said to yourself, "I'm above the law."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ambition;   Covetousness;   Oppression;   Pride;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Covetousness;   Greed;   Liberality-Parsimony;   Misery of Greed;   The Topic Concordance - Glory;   Iniquity;   Profit;   Shame;   Violence;   Wealth;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ambition;   Covetousness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Woe;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Habakkuk;   Jehoiakim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Habakkuk;   Loan;   Nest;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Covetousness;   Habakkuk;   Nest;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Woe;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Habakkuk;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Eagle;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Nest;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Eagle;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Get;   Habakkuk;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Covetousness;   Ethics;   Punctuation;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Woe to him who dishonestly makeswealth for his houseto place his nest on high,to escape the grasp of disaster!
Hebrew Names Version
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!
King James Version (1611)
Woe to him that coueteth an euill couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that hee may be deliuered from the power of euill.
King James Version
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!
English Standard Version
"Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!
New American Standard Bible
"Woe to him who makes evil profit for his household, To put his nest on high, To be saved from the hand of catastrophe!
New Century Version
"How terrible it will be for the nation that becomes rich by doing wrong, thinking they will live in a safe place and escape harm.
Amplified Bible
"Woe (judgment is coming) to him who obtains wicked gain for his house [and thinks by so doing] To set his nest on high, That he may be rescued from the hand of evil.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Ho, he that coueteth an euil couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on hie, to escape from the power of euil.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house To put his nest on high, To be delivered from the hand of calamity!
Legacy Standard Bible
"Woe to him who is greedy for evil gain for his houseTo put his nest on high,To be delivered from the hand of evil!
Berean Standard Bible
Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘Woe to him who seeks unjust gain for his household, putting his nest on the heights, in order to be safe from the reach of harm.
Darby Translation
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!
Easy-to-Read Version
"Look at you people! You get rich by cheating people, and it hurts your own family! You build your houses high on the cliffs to protect yourself from danger.
George Lamsa Translation
Woe to him who defrauds and heaps up evil for himself, who sets his nest on high that he may be delivered from evil!
Good News Translation
You are doomed! You have made your family rich with what you took by violence, and have tried to make your own home safe from harm and danger!
Lexham English Bible
Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be saved from the hand of misfortune!
Literal Translation
Woe to him who robs evil booty for his house, to set his nest on high, to be snatched from the hand of evil!
American Standard Version
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!
Bible in Basic English
A curse on him who gets evil profits for his family, so that he may put his resting-place on high and be safe from the hand of the wrongdoer!
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Woe to him that gaineth evil gains for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wo he that coueteth an euyll couetousnesse to his house, that he may set his nest on hie, to escape from the power of euyll.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evils.
English Revised Version
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!
World English Bible
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!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Wo to hym that gaderith yuel coueitise to his hous, that his nest be in hiy, and gessith hym for to be delyuered of the hond of yuel.
Update Bible Version
Woe to him that 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!
Webster's Bible Translation
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!
New English Translation
The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.
New King James Version
"Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
New Living Translation
"What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family's nest beyond the reach of danger.
New Life Bible
"It is bad for him who builds his house by sinful ways, to put his nest in a high place to be safe from trouble!
New Revised Standard
"Alas for you who get evil gain for your house, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Alas! for him who extorteth an extortion of wrong for his own house, - that he may set on high his nest, that he may be delivered from the grasp of calamity.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to him that gathereth together an evil covetousness to his house, that his nest may be on high, and thinketh he may be delivered out of the hand of evil.
Revised Standard Version
Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!
Young's Literal Translation
Wo [to] him who is gaining evil gain for his house, To set on high his nest, To be delivered from the hand of evil,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wo vnto him, that couetously gathereth euell gotten goodes in to his house: that he maye set his nest an hye, to escape from the power of mysfortune.
THE MESSAGE
"Who do you think you are— recklessly grabbing and looting, Living it up, acting like king of the mountain, acting above it all, above trials and troubles? You've engineered the ruin of your own house. In ruining others you've ruined yourself. You've undermined your foundations, rotted out your own soul. The bricks of your house will speak up and accuse you. The woodwork will step forward with evidence.

Contextual Overview

5 Wine is treacherous, and arrogant people are never satisfied. They are no less greedy than death itself— they open their mouths as wide as the world of the dead and swallow everyone. 6 But they will be mocked with these words: You're doomed! You stored up stolen goods and cheated others of what belonged to them. 7 But without warning, those you owe will demand payment. Then you will become a frightened victim. 8 You robbed cities and nations everywhere on earth and murdered their people. Now those who survived will be as cruel to you. 9 You're doomed! You made your family rich at the expense of others. You even said to yourself, "I'm above the law." 10 But you will bring shame on your family and ruin to yourself for what you did to others. 11 The very stones and wood in your home will testify against you. 12 You're doomed! You built a city on crime and violence. 13 But the Lord All-Powerful sends up in flames what nations and people work so hard to gain. 14 Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the Lord .

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that coveteth an evil covetousness: or, that gaineth an evil gain, Genesis 13:10-13, Genesis 19:26-38, Deuteronomy 7:25, Deuteronomy 7:26, Joshua 7:21-26, 1 Kings 21:2-4, 1 Kings 21:19-24, 2 Kings 5:20-27, Job 20:19-28, Jeremiah 22:13-19, Zechariah 5:1-4, Acts 1:17-25, Jude 1:11

set: Psalms 10:3-6, Psalms 49:11, Psalms 52:7, Proverbs 18:11, Proverbs 18:12, Isaiah 28:15, Isaiah 47:7-9, Jeremiah 49:16, Obadiah 1:4

power of evil: Heb. palm of the hand

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:17 - thy neighbour's house Deuteronomy 5:21 - General 1 Samuel 15:19 - fly upon 1 Kings 21:4 - heavy Job 21:28 - Where Job 29:18 - I shall die Psalms 119:36 - and not to Proverbs 1:19 - every Proverbs 11:29 - that Proverbs 15:27 - He that is Proverbs 21:12 - wisely Isaiah 5:8 - them Isaiah 10:1 - Woe Jeremiah 5:27 - so are Jeremiah 22:23 - makest Jeremiah 51:13 - and the Micah 3:10 - build up Zion Zechariah 5:4 - and it shall remain Mark 10:24 - trust Luke 12:15 - Take Luke 12:21 - he Acts 8:20 - Thy

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life—the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong.
Genesis 2:17
except the one that has the power to let you know the difference between right and wrong. If you eat any fruit from that tree, you will die before the day is over!"
Genesis 3:3
except the one in the middle. He told us not to eat fruit from that tree or even to touch it. If we do, we will die."
Proverbs 3:18
Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Proverbs 11:30
Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree. And if you act wisely, others will follow.
Isaiah 44:25
I make liars of false prophets and fools of fortunetellers. I take human wisdom and turn it into nonsense.
Isaiah 47:10
You hid behind evil like a shield and said, "No one can see me!" You were fooled by your wisdom and your knowledge; you felt sure that you alone were in full control.
Ezekiel 31:16
This tree will crash to the ground, and I will send it to the world below. Then the nations of the earth will tremble. The trees from Eden and the choice trees from Lebanon are now in the world of the dead, and they will be comforted when this tree falls.
Ezekiel 31:18
King of Egypt, all these things will happen to you and your people! You were like this tree at one time—taller and stronger than anyone on earth. But now you will be chopped down, just as every tree in the garden of Eden must die. You will be sent down to the world of the dead, where you will join the godless and the other victims of violent death. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house,.... The bishops of Rome, being enriched by the donations of Constantine, were not satisfied, but coveted more; these are the greedy dogs Isaiah speaks of, that could never have enough, Isaiah 56:11 but were still seeking and gaping after more for themselves and families, and for their own house or church; which, from the time of their apostasy, became their own house, in distinction from, and in opposition to, the house or true church of God; and of those covetous bishops, or Rome Papal, are these and the following words to Habakkuk 2:9 to be understood:

that he may set his nest on high: in allusion to birds, especially the eagle, which builds its nest in high places, that it may be secure from any that would otherwise disturb it, or take it away: so these covetous and ambitious bishops, getting great wealth and riches, and large dominions into their hands, secular power and authority, as well as ecclesiastical, set themselves up, and advanced their see and seat, not only above all other bishops, but even above the kings and princes of the earth, above all that are called gods, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and by such means endeavoured to gain their point, the main thing they had in view:

that he may be delivered from the power of evil; that they might be safe and secure against all worldly power, and be out of the jurisdiction of the princes of the earth, and in no danger of being dispossessed or crushed by them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house - (or, with accents, “that coveteth covetousness or unjust gain, an evil to his house.”) What man coveteth seems gain, but is evil “to his house” after him, destroying both himself and his whole family or race with him . “That he may set his nest on high,” as an eagle, to which he had likened the Chaldee (Habakkuk 1:8. Compare Jeremiah 20:16). A pagan called “strongholds, the nests of tyrants.” The nest was placed “on high” which means also “heaven,” as it is said, Obadiah 1:4, “though thou set thy nest among the stars;” and the tower of Babel was to “reach unto heaven” Genesis 11:4; and the antichrist, whose symbol the King of Babylon is, Isaiah 14:13 says, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.” Babylon lying in a large plain, on the sides of the Euphrates, the image of its eagle’s-nest on high must be taken, not from any natural eminence, but wholly from the works of man.

Its walls, and its hanging gardens were among “the seven wonders of the world.” Eye-witnesses speak of its walls, encompassing at least 100 square miles , “and as large as the land-graviat of Hesse Homberg;” those walls, 335, or 330 feet high, and 85 feet broad ; a fortified palace, nearly 7 miles in circumference; gardens, 400 Greek feet square, supporting at an artificial height arch upon arch, of “at least 75 feet,” forest trees; a temple to its god, said to have been at least 600 feet high.

If we, creatures of a day, had no one above us, Nebuchadnezzars boast had been true Daniel 4:30, “Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?” He had built an eagle’s nest, which no human arm could reach, encircled by walls which laughed its invaders to scorn, which, at that time, no skill could scale or shatter or mine. Even as one sees in a picture the vast mounds which still remain , one can hardly imagine that they were, brick upon brick, wholly the work of man.

To be delivered from the hand (grasp) of evil - that it should not be able to reach him. Evil is spoken of as a living power , which would seize him, whose grasp he would defy. It was indeed a living power, since it was the will of Almighty God, whose servant and instrument Cyrus was, to chasten Babylon, when its sins were full. Such was the counsel, what the result? The evil covetousness which he worked, brought upon him the evil, from which, in that nest built by the hard toil of his captives, he thought to deliver himself.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. An evil covetousness to his house — Nebuchadnezzar wished to aggrandize his family, and make his empire permanent: but both family and empire were soon cut off by the death of his son Belshazzar, and the consequent destruction of the Chaldean empire.


 
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