Habakkuk 1:4
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?
3 Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
- KJV
- Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
- WEB
- Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.
- ASV
- Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.
- DARBY
- Therefore the law is powerless, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked encompasseth the righteous; therefore judgment goeth forth perverted.
- BLB
- Over this, the law is numb, and justice does not go forth forever. For the wicked are surrounding the righteous. Upon thus, twisted justice goes forth.
- ÅB
- Derfor er loven maktesløs, og retten kommer aldri fram; for ugudelige omringer den rettferdige, derfor kommer retten fram forvendt.
- OTB
- Derfor er loven uten kraft,
og rettferdighet kommer aldri fram.
De ugudelige omringer de rettferdige,
så rettferdigheten blir forvrengt. - B1930
- Derfor er loven maktesløs, og retten kommer aldri frem; for ugudelige omringer den rettferdige, derfor kommer retten frem forvendt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 94:20–21
Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?
Read in contextIsaiah 1:21–23
See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
Read in contextPsalms 119:126
It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.
Read in contextJob 21:7
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
Read in contextEzekiel 9:9
He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’
Read in contextJeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
Read in contextIsaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
Read in contextIsaiah 59:13–15
rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.
Read in context