KJV ORIGINAL
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Major trouble is coming for anyone who builds their empire on violence and gets their power through doing wrong.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
You can't build something good on a foundation of hurt and lies.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet is grappling with God's apparent inaction against the rampant injustice and violence in Judah, as the Babylonian empire rises as a tool of divine judgment. This verse is part of a series of "woe" pronouncements directed at the Babylonians, who built their vast empire through brutal conquests and exploitation. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's opposition to human societies founded on bloodshed and moral corruption.
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