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11 But then the wind blows and passes over them,[a] and they will bear their guilt—these men whose own strength is their god.

Habakkuk Replies

12 Are you not from ancient times, O Lord?
    My God, my Holy One, you will not die.[b]
    Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment.
    You, our Rock, have established them as your instrument of discipline.[c]
13 You whose eyes are too pure to tolerate evil,
    you who are not able to condone wrongdoing,
    why do you put up with treacherous people?
    Why do you keep silent when the wicked swallow up those who are more righteous than they are?

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 1:11 Or then the wind blows and they move on. The meaning of this sentence is uncertain.
  2. Habakkuk 1:12 The translation follows the alternate Hebrew reading, known as a correction of the scribes. The standard Hebrew text reads we will not die, likely because scribes did not want to mention death and God in the same sentence.
  3. Habakkuk 1:12 In this verse it is uncertain whether the Lord made the Babylonians recipients of judgment because of their godlessness or whether he made them instruments of judgment against Israel. The translation follows the second option.

11 Then they sweep past like the wind(A) and go on—
    guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”(B)

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?(C)
    My God, my Holy One,(D) you[a] will never die.(E)
You, Lord, have appointed(F) them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock,(G) have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure(H) to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.(I)
Why then do you tolerate(J) the treacherous?(K)
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 1:12 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text we