SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:9
¡Ay del que codicia ganancia mal habida por violencia para su casa, por poner en alto su nido, por escaparse del poder del mal!
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9
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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house , etc.] 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 2:9-14) 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-14 - The prophet reads the doom of all proud and oppressive powers that bea hard upon God's people. The lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, are the entangling snares of men; and we fin him that led Israel captive, himself led captive by each of these. N more of what we have is to be reckoned ours, than what we come honestl by. Riches are but clay, thick clay; what are gold and silver but whit and yellow earth? Those who travel through thick clay, are hindered an dirtied in their journey; so are those who go through the world in the midst of abundance of wealth. And what fools are those that burde themselves with continual care about it; with a great deal of guilt is getting, saving, and spending it, and with a heavy account which the must give another day! They overload themselves with this thick clay and so sink themselves down into destruction and perdition. See what will be the end hereof; what is gotten by violence from others, other shall take away by violence. Covetousness brings disquiet an uneasiness into a family; he that is greedy of gain troubles his ow house; what is worse, it brings the curse of God upon all the affair of it. There is a lawful gain, which, by the blessing of God, may be comfort to a house; but what is got by fraud and injustice, will brin poverty and ruin upon a family. Yet that is not the worst; Thou has sinned against thine own soul, hast endangered it. Those who wron their neighbours, do much greater wrong to their own souls. If the sinner thinks he has managed his frauds and violence with art an contrivance, the riches and possessions he heaped together will witnes against him. There are not greater drudges in the world than those wh are slaves to mere wordly pursuits. And what comes of it? They fin themselves disappointed of it, and disappointed in it; they will own it is worse than vanity, it is vexation of spirit. By staining and sinkin earthly glory, God manifests and magnifies his own glory, and fills the earth with the knowledge of it, as plentifully as waters cover the sea which are deep, and spread far and wide.
Original Hebrew
הוי 1945 בצע 1214 בצע 1215 רע 7451 לביתו 1004 לשׂום 7760 במרום 4791 קנו 7064 להנצל 5337 מכף 3709 רע׃ 7451