Verses 14-17 give a figurative description of the way the Babylonians treat their enemies. Verse 14 gives the setting, verses 15-16 describe what happens, and verse 17 states the question which the situation raises in the prophet’s mind.

In verse 14, thou makest, Habakkuk boldly blames God for bringing about the conditions under which the Babylonians can abuse their power. In some languages it may be necessary to say “You cause men to become…” or “You allow men to become….” He uses two comparisons: thou makest men like the fish of the sea and like crawling things that have no ruler. The point of the comparison with crawling things is that they have no leaders to help defend them. The point of the comparison with the fish is not stated here, but in the light of the following verse, it seems to be the casual way in which people kill them without worrying about it. Perhaps this can be brought out by saying “treat people as if they were only fish” or “… as if they were no more important than fish.”

Fish of the sea is a Hebrew expression which sounds rather odd in English. Some modern translations say “fish (or, fishes) in the sea” (Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible, New International Version), but Good News Translation recognizes that “fish” alone is sufficient (compare Good News Translation Zeph 1.3). Translators should consider what expression sounds natural and appropriate in their own language.

Crawling things may refer either to small “sea creatures” (New International Version) or to “a swarm of insects” (Good News Translation) such as ants or locusts. In languages which do not have a general word which equals the English word “insects” in meaning, one may say “a swarm of tiny crawling creatures,” or even “a swarm of ants.” The point here is that they “have no ruler” and are therefore disorganized and defenseless. This is a forceful picture of the way other nations were helpless before the Babylonian armies.

This verse is a statement in Hebrew, but Good News Translation has turned it into a rhetorical question, “How can you treat…?” as has New English Bible. There is no great advantage in this, and few translators will wish to do the same. However, the sense of the Hebrew in the phrase thou makest men like shows a direct causative action by God rather than a more passive one as in Good News Translation‘s “How can you treat people….” Therefore the following are legitimate translations: “You cause people to become…” or “You allow people to become….” Another translation model for this verse is “You cause people to become like mere fish, or like a swarm of insects that have no ruler to direct (or, lead) them.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on the Book of Habakkuk. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .