Habakkuk 2:9

The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. ¹  He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster. ² 

"Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!

"Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house To put his nest on high, To be delivered from the hand of calamity!

"How terrible it will be for you who get rich by unjust means! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your families beyond the reach of danger.

"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?

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!

"Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!"

"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!

The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. ¹  He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster. ² 

¹ tn Heb “Woe [to] the one who profits unjustly by evil unjust gain for his house.” On the term הוֹי (hoy) see the note on the word “dead” in v. 6.

² tn Heb “to place his nest in the heights in order to escape from the hand of disaster.”

sn Here the Babylonians are compared to a bird, perhaps an eagle, that builds its nest in an inaccessible high place where predators cannot reach it.