Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 1:3

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

It is but a vexation to me, O Lord, to see that iniquity, which I cannot reform: I see every where cruelty and oppression before me; and, when I reprove them, there are those, that raise up strife and contention against me.

Habakkuk 1:4

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Hereupon it comes to pass, that the law is not pressed home, and judgment is neither denounced nor executed: for the righteous are in the power and mercy of the wicked; so as it cannot be, but that wrong judgment must needs proceed against the just and innocent.

Habakkuk 1:5

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

But, to take away the ground of all this complaint, behold, O ye degenerated people of the Jews, and look upon those heathen whom ye hate and contemn; and wonder at that, which I will bring to pass by their hands against you, even a work, which, to your incredulity and self-confidence, will seem incredible.

Habakkuk 1:7

Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

They shall have the law in their own hands; and they shall carve themselves, of your punishment, and their own advancement, at their pleasure.

Habakkuk 1:9

They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

They shall come purposely to waste and spoil: their very looks shall blast all before them like an east wind; and they

Habakkuk 1:10

And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them.

They shall make a mock at those kings and princes, that will offer to resist them.

Habakkuk 1:11

Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his God.

Then shall their king Nebuchadnezzar alter his determination of prosecuting his foreign invasions; and, returning home to Babylon, shall be puffed up with these his victories, and shall foolishly impute them to his god Bel.

Habakkuk 1:12

Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment: and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

But, that I may turn my thoughts and my speech to thee, O Lord my God, mine Holy One, I hope thou hast not designed us to utter extirpation: thou hast ordained these Chaldees, most justly, for our punishment; and set them on work for our correction, not for our destruction.

Habakkuk 1:13

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, &c. Wherefore shouldest thou give way to the wicked Chaldees, to devour thy people that are more righteous than they?

Habakkuk 1:14

And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no rule over them?

Wherefore shouldest thou put men into the same condition with the fishes of the sea, amongst whom the greater devours the less, without all regard of any thing but power; or, into the same case with creeping things, which, having no ruler, have therefore no protection or safety from mutual violence?

Habakkuk 1:15

They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

Even as such fishes, doth Nebuchadnezzar take thy people of Judah: he takes them up with the angle; and, lest that dispatch should not be speedy enough, he catcheth them in his net, and gathers them in his drag, to cast them out into captivity; and rejoiceth and triumpheth in this his advantage.

Habakkuk 1:16

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

And, hereupon, he and his Babylonians sacrifice to this net of their policy, and burn incense to the drag of their power; because they have, by them, increased their dignity and dominion.

Habakkuk 1:17

Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Wilt thou therefore, O Lord, still suffer them to empty their net for a new draught? Wilt thou not restrain them, from making spoil of the nations round about continually?