Parallel Verses
Amplified
“Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts
That peoples labor [only] for the fire [that will destroy their work],
And nations grow weary for nothing [that is, things which have no lasting value]?
New American Standard Bible
That peoples
And nations grow weary for nothing?
King James Version
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
Holman Bible
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
International Standard Version
Is it not because of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies that people grow tired putting out fires, and nations weary themselves over nothing?
A Conservative Version
Behold, is it not of LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
American Standard Version
Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
Bible in Basic English
See, is it not the pleasure of the Lord of armies that the peoples are working for the fire and using themselves up for nothing?
Darby Translation
Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?
Julia Smith Translation
Behold, is it not from Jehovah of armies, and the peoples shall labor in a sufficiency of fire, and the peoples shall be wearied in a sufficiency of emptiness?
King James 2000
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor to feed the fire, and the people shall weary themselves in vain?
Lexham Expanded Bible
Look! [Is it] not from Yahweh of hosts that people labor for mere fire, and nations exhaust themselves for mere vanity?
Modern King James verseion
Behold, is it not for Jehovah of Hosts that the people labor only for fire; yea, the nations weary themselves only for vanity?
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Shall not the LORD of Hosts bring this to pass, that the laborers of the people shall be burnt with a great fire, and that the thing whereupon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost?
NET Bible
Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations' efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing.
New Heart English Bible
Behold, isn't it of the LORD of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
The Emphasized Bible
Lo! is it not from Yahweh of hosts - that peoples labour for fire, and, populations, for emptiness, weary themselves?
Webster
Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
World English Bible
Behold, isn't it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
Youngs Literal Translation
Lo, is it not from Jehovah of Hosts And peoples are fatigued for fire, And nations for vanity are weary?
Themes
Glory » Whose glory becomes shame
Iniquity » Those that build a city with iniquity
Labour » fields of activity » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Profit » Those that profit from violence
Shame » Whose glory becomes shame
Toil » Worldly, sometimes disappointing
Word Count of 20 Translations in Habakkuk 2:13
Verse Info
Context Readings
Doom On The Unrighteous
12
“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who builds a city with bloodshed
And establishes a town by violence!
“Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts
That peoples labor [only] for the fire [that will destroy their work],
And nations grow weary for nothing [that is, things which have no lasting value]?
“But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.
Cross References
Isaiah 50:11
Listen carefully, all you who kindle your own fire [devising your own man-made plan of salvation],
Who surround yourselves with torches,
Walk by the light of your [self-made] fire
And among the torches that you have set ablaze.
But this you will have from My hand:
You will lie down in [a place of] torment.
Jeremiah 51:58
Thus says the Lord of hosts,
And her high gates will be set on fire;
The peoples will labor in vain,
And the nations become exhausted [only] for fire [that will destroy their work].”
Genesis 11:6-9
And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one [unified] people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.
2 Samuel 15:31
David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Job 5:13-14
“He catches the [so-called] wise in their own shrewdness,
And the advice of the devious is quickly thwarted.
Psalm 39:6
“Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade];
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.
Psalm 127:1-2
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
Proverbs 21:30
There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.
Isaiah 41:5-8
The islands and coastlands have seen and they fear;
The ends of the earth tremble;
They have drawn near and have come.
Isaiah 55:2
“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,
And your earnings for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight in
Jeremiah 51:64
Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink down and not rise because of the disaster that I will bring on her; and the Babylonians will become [hopelessly] exhausted.’” Thus the words of Jeremiah are completed.
Malachi 1:4
Though [impoverished] Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins.” Thus says the Lord of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the Wicked Territory, the people against whom the Lord is indignant forever.”