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“I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me.
    I protest, but there is no justice.

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“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(A)
    though I call for help,(B) there is no justice.(C)

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Habakkuk’s Complaint

How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
    But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,
    but you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
    Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
    I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people
    who love to argue and fight.

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Habakkuk’s Complaint

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)
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.

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And though I cry and shout,
    he has shut out my prayers.

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Even when I call out or cry for help,(A)
    he shuts out my prayer.(B)

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20 “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.
    I stand before you, but you don’t even look.

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20 “I cry out to you,(A) God, but you do not answer;(B)
    I stand up, but you merely look at me.

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When I speak, the words burst out.
    “Violence and destruction!” I shout.
So these messages from the Lord
    have made me a household joke.

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Whenever I speak, I cry out
    proclaiming violence and destruction.(A)
So the word of the Lord has brought me
    insult and reproach(B) all day long.

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Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

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My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(A)
    by night,(B) but I find no rest.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent

“Will you discredit my justice
    and condemn me just to prove you are right?

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“Would you discredit my justice?(A)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(B)

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For Job also said, ‘I am innocent,
    but God has taken away my rights.

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“Job says, ‘I am innocent,(A)
    but God denies me justice.(B)

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35 “If only someone would listen to me!
    Look, I will sign my name to my defense.
Let the Almighty answer me.
    Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
36 I would face the accusation proudly.
    I would wear it like a crown.

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35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!(A)
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser(B) put his indictment in writing.
36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,(C)
    I would put it on like a crown.(D)

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If only I knew where to find God,
    I would go to his court.
I would lay out my case
    and present my arguments.
Then I would listen to his reply
    and understand what he says to me.
Would he use his great power to argue with me?
    No, he would give me a fair hearing.
Honest people can reason with him,
    so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.

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If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(A)
I would state my case(B) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(C)
I would find out what he would answer me,(D)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(E)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(F)
There the upright(G) can establish their innocence before him,(H)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(I)

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27 “Look, I know what you’re thinking.
    I know the schemes you plot against me.

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27 “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.

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21 I need someone to mediate between God and me,
    as a person mediates between friends.

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21 on behalf of a man he pleads(A) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

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17 Yet I have done no wrong,
    and my prayer is pure.

18 “O earth, do not conceal my blood.
    Let it cry out on my behalf.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven.
    My advocate is there on high.

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17 yet my hands have been free of violence(A)
    and my prayer is pure.(B)

18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(C)
    may my cry(D) never be laid to rest!(E)
19 Even now my witness(F) is in heaven;(G)
    my advocate is on high.(H)

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