Habakuk 2:1

2:1 I will stand at my watch post;

I will remain stationed on the city wall. ¹ 

I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me

and can know ²  how I should answer

when he counters my argument. ³ 

Habakuk 2:7

2:7 Your creditors will suddenly attack; ⁴ 

those who terrify you will spring into action, ⁵ 

and they will rob you. ⁶ 

Habakuk 2:19

2:19 The one who says to wood, ‘Wake up!’ is as good as dead ⁷  –

he who says ⁸  to speechless stone, ‘Awake!’

Can it give reliable guidance? ⁹ 

It is overlaid with gold and silver;

it has no life’s breath inside it.

[2:1]  ¹ sn Habakkuk compares himself to a watchman stationed on the city wall who keeps his eyes open for approaching messengers or danger.

[2:1]  ² tn The word “know” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[2:1]  ³ tn Heb “concerning my correction [or, “reproof”].”

[2:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “Will not your creditors suddenly rise up?” The rhetorical question assumes the response, “Yes, they will.” The present translation brings out the rhetorical force of the question by rendering it as an affirmation.

[2:7]  sn Your creditors will suddenly attack. The Babylonians are addressed directly here. They have robbed and terrorized others, but now the situation will be reversed as their creditors suddenly attack them.

[2:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “[Will not] the ones who make you tremble awake?”

[2:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “and you will become their plunder.”

[2:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “Woe [to] the one who says.” On the term הוֹי (hoy) see the note on the word “dead” in v. 6.

[2:19]  ⁸ tn The words “he who says” in the translation are supplied from the previous parallel line.

[2:19]  ⁹ tn Though the Hebrew text has no formal interrogative marker here, the context indicates that the statement should be taken as a rhetorical question anticipating the answer, “Of course not!” (so also NIV, NRSV).