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The Habakkuk Pesher — Column 4

The Qumran Community · a new plain-English translation from the original language

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He scoffs at kings, and rulers are a mockery to him [...] Its interpretation: that

they will deride the many and scorn the honored ones; against kings

and princes they will jeer, and they will mock a great people [...] and he

will scoff at every fortress, and heap up earth and capture it [...]

Its interpretation: concerning the rulers of the Kittim, who scorn

the fortresses of the peoples and in mockery scoff at them [...]

and with a great people they surround them to seize them, and with terror and dread

they are given into their hand [...] and they destroy them because of the iniquity of those who dwell

in them [...] Then the spirit passed on and swept by, and he made this his strength,

his god [...] Its interpretation: [concerning] the rulers? of the Kittim

who, by the counsel of the house of [their guilt], pass on, one

before his fellow; [their rulers], [this] one after another they come

to destroy the [land] [...] [and] [he made] this? his strength, his god

Its interpretation: [that all] the peoples [will make]

for [...] to

[...] [Are] [not] [you] [from] [of old],

[O LORD], [my God], [my Holy One]? [We shall] not [die] [...] [O LORD]

An original translation made in 2026 by Scriptorium Press, working directly from the original language text (never from another English translation), in one consistent modern voice. Free to read, download, and listen — no accounts, no ads, nothing for sale.

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