Habakkuk 1:2-4
New American Standard Bible
2 (A)How long, Lord, have I called for help,
And You do not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do (B)not save.
3 Why do You make me (C)see disaster,
And make me look at destitution?
Yes, (D)devastation and violence are before me;
(E)Strife exists and contention arises.
4 Therefore the (F)Law [a]is ignored,
And justice [b]is never upheld.
For the wicked (G)surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out (H)confused.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:4 Or is ineffective; lit turns cold
- Habakkuk 1:4 Lit never goes forth
Habakkuk 1:2-4
International Standard Version
The Prophet’s First Complaint
2 “How long, Lord, must I cry out for help,
but you won’t listen?
I’m crying out to you, ‘Violence!’
but you aren’t providing deliverance.
3 Why are you forcing me to look at iniquity
and to stare at wickedness?
Social havoc and oppression are all around me;
there are legal conflicts, and disputes abound.
4 Therefore, the Law has become paralyzed,
and justice never comes about.
Because criminals outnumber[a] the righteous,
whenever judgments are issued, they come out crooked.”
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 1:4 Lit. are surrounding
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
