Lectionary Calendar
Monday, September 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Habakkuk 2:9

"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!

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!
Contemporary English Version
You're doomed! You made your family rich at the expense of others. You even said to yourself, "I'm above the law."
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 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 "Also, wine fools the proud man, so he does not stay at home. He is like the grave who always wants more. Like death, he never has enough. He gathers all nations for himself, and gathers all people for his own. 6 "Will not all these people make fun of him and say, ‘It is bad for him who gathers what is not his and makes himself rich with other people's money. How long will this go on?' 7 Will not those to whom you owe money rise up all at once? Will they not wake up and make you afraid? Then they will take what belongs to you. 8 Because you have robbed many nations, the rest of them will rob you. For you have killed men. You have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. 9 "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! 10 You have brought shame upon your house by destroying many nations. You are sinning against yourself. 11 The stone will cry out from the wall, and the roof will answer it from the wood. 12 "It is bad for him who builds a city with blood, and builds a town with wrong-doing! 13 Is it not the will of the All-powerful Lord that people work for what will burn up and nations make themselves tired for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with knowing of the Lord's shining-greatness, as the waters cover the sea.

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 God planted a garden to the east in Eden. He put the man there whom He had made.
Genesis 2:9
And the Lord God made to grow out of the ground every tree that is pleasing to the eyes and good for food. And He made the tree of life grow in the center of the garden, and the tree of learning of good and bad.
Genesis 2:17
But do not eat from the tree of learning of good and bad. For the day you eat from it you will die for sure."
Genesis 3:3
But from the tree which is in the center of the garden, God has said, ‘Do not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"
Deuteronomy 6:25
We will be right with the Lord our God if we are careful to obey all of the Law before Him, just as He told us.
Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Happy are all who hold her near.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of those who are right with God is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Isaiah 44:25
I allow trouble to come on the special things done by men who lie and speak in pride. I make fools out of those who tell the future using their secret ways. I turn back wise men, and make their learning foolish.
Isaiah 47:10
You trusted in your sin and said, ‘No one sees me.' Your wisdom and learning have led you the wrong way, for you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.'
Ezekiel 31:16
I will make the nations shake in fear at the sound of its fall when I send it to the place of the dead with those who go down to the grave. Then all the well-watered trees of Eden, the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth below.

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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