Habakkuk 1:17 (DRB)

Passage

For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations.

Nearby Context

Habakkuk 1:15 He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice.

Habakkuk 1:16 Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty.

Habakkuk 1:17 For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "cause", "therefore", "spreadeth", "spare", "continually", "slay", and "nations". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "cause" and "therefore", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Therefore will he offer victims to his...", giving immediate footing for "cause" and "therefore". In Habakkuk context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "cause" and "therefore" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.