Habakkuk 1:3-4
New International Version
Habakkuk 1:3-4
English Standard Version
3 (A)Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction (B)and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
4 (C)So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
(D)For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
Habakkuk 1:3-4
New American Standard Bible
3 Why do You make me (A)see disaster,
And make me look at destitution?
Yes, (B)devastation and violence are before me;
(C)Strife exists and contention arises.
4 Therefore the (D)Law [a]is ignored,
And justice [b]is never upheld.
For the wicked (E)surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out (F)confused.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:4 Or is ineffective; lit turns cold
- Habakkuk 1:4 Lit never goes forth
Habakkuk 1:3-4
New King James Version
3 Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see [a]trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the (A)wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:3 Or toil
Habakkuk 1:3-4
The Message
Justice Is a Joke
1 1-4 The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:
God, how long do I have to cry out for help
before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”
before you come to the rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil,
stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out,
quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung
and stand justice on its head.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson