Habakkuk Chapter 1
Berean Standard Bible
Habakkuk’s First Complaint
1This is the burdenH4853 thatH834 HabakkukH2265 the prophetH5030 received in a visionH2372:
2How longH5704H575, O LORDH3068, must I call for helpH7768but You do notH3808 hearH8085,or cry outH2199 to YouH413, “ViolenceH2555!”but You do notH3808 saveH3467?3WhyH4100 do You make me seeH7200 iniquityH205?Why do You tolerateH5027 wrongdoingH5999?DestructionH7701 and violenceH2555 are before meH5048.StrifeH7379 is ongoingH1961, and conflictH4066 aboundsH5375.
The LORD’s Answer
4ThereforeH5921H3651 the lawH8451 is paralyzedH6313, and justiceH4941 neverH3808H5331 goes forthH3318. ForH3588 the wickedH7563 hem inH3803 the righteousH6662, so thatH5921H3651 justiceH4941 isH3318 pervertedH6127.
5“LookH7200 at the nationsH1471 and observeH5027—be utterly astoundedH8539!1ForH3588 I am doingH6466 a workH6467 in your daysH3117that you would neverH3808 believeH539even ifH3588 someone told youH5608.26ForH3588 beholdH2005, I am raising upH6965 the ChaldeansH37783—that ruthlessH4751 and impetuousH4116 nationH1471which marchesH1980 through the breadthH4800 of the earthH776to seizeH3423 dwellingsH4908 notH3808 their own.7TheyH1931 are dreadedH366 and fearedH3372;from themselvesH4480 they deriveH3318 justiceH4941 and sovereigntyH7613.8Their horsesH5483 are swifterH7043 than leopardsH5246,fiercerH2300 than wolvesH2061 of the nightH6153.Their horsemenH6571 charge aheadH6335,and their cavalryH6571 comesH935 from afarH7350.They flyH5774 like a vultureH5404,swooping downH2363 to devourH398.9AllH3605 of them comeH935 bentH4041 on violenceH2555;their hordesH6440 advance like the eastH6921 wind;they gatherH622 prisonersH7628 like sandH2344.10TheyH1931 scoff atH7046 kingsH4428and make rulersH7336 an object of scornH4890.TheyH1931 laughH7832 at everyH3605 fortressH4013and build upH6651 siege rampsH6083 to seize itH3920.
Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
(Psalm 11:1–7)
11ThenH227 they sweep byH2498 like the windH7307 and pass throughH5674. TheyH2098 are guiltyH816; their own strengthH3581 is their godH433.”
12Are YouH859 notH3808 from everlastingH6924,O LORDH3068, my GodH430, my Holy OneH6918?We will not dieH3808H4191.O LORDH3068, You have appointed themH7760to execute judgmentH4941;O RockH6697, You have established themH3245for correctionH3198.13Your eyesH5869 are too pureH2890 to look uponH7200 evilH7451,and You cannotH3808H3201 tolerateH5027H413 wrongdoingH5999.So whyH4100 do You tolerateH5027 the faithlessH898?Why are You silentH2790while the wickedH7563 swallow upH1104those more righteousH6662 than themselvesH4480?14You have madeH6213 menH120 like the fishH1709 of the seaH3220,like creeping thingsH7431 that have noH3808 rulerH4910.15The foe pulls all of themH3605 upH59274 with a hookH2443;he catches themH1641 in his dragnetH2764,and gathers themH622 in his fishing netH4365;soH5921H3651 he rejoices gladlyH8055H1523.16ThereforeH5921H3651 he sacrificesH2076 to his dragnetH2764and burns incenseH6999 to his fishing netH4365,forH3588 by these things his portionH2506 is sumptuousH8082and his foodH3978 is richH1277.17Will heH5921, thereforeH3651, emptyH7324 his netH2764and continueH8548 to slayH2026 nationsH1471 withoutH3808 mercyH2550?
Notes
- 1. Habakkuk 1:5 LXX Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! ↩
- 2. Habakkuk 1:5 Cited in Acts 13:41 ↩
- 3. Habakkuk 1:6 That is, the Babylonians ↩
- 4. Habakkuk 1:15 Literally He pulls all of them up ↩
Commentaries on Habakkuk 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries