Habakkuk 1:1–4

Habakkuk Complains to the Lord

1:1 The following is the message1 which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:2

1:2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?

But you do not listen!

I call out to you, “Violence!”

But you do not intervene!3

1:3 Why do you force me to witness injustice?4

Why do you put up with wrongdoing?5

Destruction and violence confront6 me;

conflict is present and one must endure strife.7

1:4 For this reason the law lacks power,8

and justice is never carried out.9

Indeed,10 the wicked intimidate11 the innocent.12

For this reason justice is perverted.13

1	tn Heb “The burden” (so KJV, ASV). The Hebrew term מַשָּׂא (masa’), usually translated “oracle” (NAB, NEB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “utterance” (BDB 672 s.v. III מַשָּׂא), in prophetic literature is a technical term introducing a message from the Lord (see Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Since it derives from a verb meaning “to carry,” its original nuance was that of a burdensome message, that is, one with ominous content.
2	tn Heb “The message [traditionally, “burden”] which Habakkuk the prophet saw.”
3	tn Or “deliver.”
4	tn Heb “Why do you make me see injustice?”
5	tn Heb “Why do you look at wrongdoing?” sn Habakkuk complains that God tolerates social injustice and fails to intervene on behalf of the oppressed (put up with wrongdoing).
6	tn Heb “are before.”
7	tn Heb “and there is conflict and strife he lifts up.” The present translation takes the verb יִשָּׂא (yisa’) in the sense of “carry, bear,” and understands the subject to be indefinite (“one”).
8	tn Heb “the law is numb,” i.e., like a hand that has “fallen asleep” (see Ps 77:2). Cf. NAB “is benumbed”; NIV “is paralyzed.”
9	tn Heb “never goes out.”
10	tn Or “for.”
11	tn Heb “surround” (so NASB, NRSV).
12	tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
13	tn Heb “comes out crooked.”