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Five "Woes" of the Wicked Babylonians

Habakkuk 2:6-19

Greed
Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long? (2:6)

False Security
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! (2:9)

Violence
Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity! (2:12)

Arrogance
Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!" (2:15)

Idolatry
Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake!" To silent stone, "Arise! It shall teach!" (2:19)

How remarkably modern these "woes" seem even though they were written to describe the ancient Babylonian culture at the time of Habakkuk. The Babylonians looked to their own manmade gods and military power to give them security, which they sought to attain by a total disregard for the rights and dignity of others.

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