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Habakkuk 1:2-4
Expanded Bible
Habakkuk 1:2-4
Expanded Bible
Habakkuk Complains
2 Lord, how long must I ·ask [cry; call] for help
and you ·ignore [do not hear] me?
I cry out to you ·about violence [or “Violence!”],
but you do not ·save [rescue] us!
3 Why do you make me see ·wrong things [evil; iniquity; injustice]
and make me look at ·trouble [wrongdoing]?
·People are destroying things and hurting others [L Destruction and violence are] in front of me;
·they are arguing and fighting [L strife and conflict arise].
4 So the ·teachings [law; instruction; L Torah] are ·weak [paralyzed],
and justice never comes.
Evil people ·gain while good people lose [L surround/hem in the righteous];
·the judges no longer make fair decisions [L so justice is perverted].
Habakkuk 1:2-4
New International Version
Habakkuk 1:2-4
New International Version
Habakkuk’s Complaint
2 How long,(A) Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?(B)
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?(C)
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate(D) wrongdoing?(E)
Destruction and violence(F) are before me;
there is strife,(G) and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law(H) is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice(I) is perverted.(J)
Habakkuk 1:2-4
King James Version
Habakkuk 1:2-4
King James Version
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
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.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
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Habakkuk 1:2-4
New King James Version
Habakkuk 1:2-4
New King James Version
The Prophet’s Question
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,
(A)And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, (B)“Violence!”
And You will (C)not save.
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 (D)wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:3 Or toil
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.