Habakkuk 1 - The Message (MSG)

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.

God Says, “Look!”

5-11 “Look around at the godless nations.
Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock.
Something’s about to take place
and you’re going to find it hard to believe.
I’m about to raise up Babylonians to punish you,
Babylonians, fierce and ferocious—
World-conquering Babylon,
grabbing up nations right and left,
A dreadful and terrible people,
making up its own rules as it goes.
Their horses run like the wind,
attack like bloodthirsty wolves.
A stampede of galloping horses
thunders out of nowhere.
They descend like vultures
circling in on carrion.
They’re out to kill. Death is on their minds.
They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts.
They mock kings,
poke fun at generals,
Spit on forts,
and leave them in the dust.
They’ll all be blown away by the wind.
Brazen in sin, they call strength their god.”

Why Is God Silent Now?

12-13 God, you’re from eternity, aren’t you?
Holy God, we aren’t going to die, are we?
God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work?
Rock-Solid God, you gave them the job of discipline?
But you can’t be serious!
You can’t condone evil!
So why don’t you do something about this?
Why are you silent now?
This outrage! Evil men swallow up the righteous
and you stand around and watch!

* * *

14-16 You’re treating men and women
as so many fish in the ocean,
Swimming without direction,
swimming but not getting anywhere.
Then this evil Babylonian arrives and goes fishing.
He pulls in a good catch.
He catches his limit and fills his bucket—
a good day of fishing! He’s happy!
He praises his rod and reel,
piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it!
It’s made his day,
and he’s going to eat well tonight!

* * *

17 Are you going to let this go on and on?
Will you let this Babylonian fisherman
Fish like a weekend angler,
killing people as if they’re nothing but fish?

* * *

You Might Also Like:

Habakkuk 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 The burden that Habakkuk the prophet hath seen: 2 Till when, O Jehovah, have I cried, And Thou dost not hear? I cry unto Thee -- `Violence,' and Thou dost not save. 3 Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, And perversity dost cause to behold? And spoiling and violence [are] before me, And there is strife...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 The burden that Habakkuk, the prophet, saw. (The vision that the prophet Habakkuk saw.) 2 How long, Lord, shall I cry, and thou shalt not hear? I suffering violence shall cry on high to thee, and thou shalt not save? (How long, Lord, shall I cry, and thou shalt not hear me? I suffering violence sh...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 The revelation which Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 Yahweh,[a] how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save? 3 Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up....
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

1 This is the vision with which the prophet Habakkuk was burdened. 2 How long must I cry, O Eternal One, and get no answer from You?Even when I yell to You, “Violence is all around!” You do nothing to save those in distress.3 Why do You force me to see these atrocities? Why do You make me watch such...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Burden for Justice in Judah1 The oracle[a] that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 How long, Adonai, have I cried for help, yet You do not hear?I cry out to You—‘Violence!’ yet You do not deliver.3 Why do You show me wickedness,and why must I behold mischief?Yes, devastation and violence are before me.Ther...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

1 The oracle of God which Habak′kuk the prophet saw. The Prophet’s Complaint2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear?Or cry to thee “Violence!” and thou wilt not save?3 Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble?Destruction and violence are before me; strife and co...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

1 The oracle of God which Habak′kuk the prophet saw. The Prophet’s Complaint2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear?Or cry to thee “Violence!” and thou wilt not save?3 Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble?Destruction and violence are before me; strife and co...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. The Prophet’s Complaint2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention ar...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.The Prophet’s Complaint2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?(A)3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention ...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision. Habakkuk’s Complaint2 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.3 Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery?Wherever I lo...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

Habakkuk’s Question1 This is the special word which Habakkuk the man of God saw. 2 O Lord, how long must I call for help before You will hear? I cry out to You, “We are being hurt!” But You do not save us. 3 Why do you make me see sins and wrong-doing? People are being destroyed in anger in front ...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Prophet Questions God’s Judgments1 The [a]burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. The Prophet’s Question2 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 [b]trouble?For plundering a...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. Habakkuk’s complaint2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?Destruction and violence are before me; there...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New International Version (NIV)

1 The prophecy(A) that Habakkuk the prophet received. Habakkuk’s Complaint2 How long,(B) Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?(C)Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?(D)3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate(E) wrongdoing?(F)Destruction and violence(G)...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

1 This is a prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received from the Lord. Here is what Habakkuk said. Habakkuk Complains to the Lord2 Lord, how long do I have to call out for help? Why don’t you listen to me?How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible? Why don’t you save us?3 Why do you m...
Read More

Habakkuk 1 - New English Translation (NET)

Habakkuk Complains to the Lord1 This is the oracle[a] that the prophet Habakkuk saw: 2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?But you do not listen!I call out to you, “Violence!”But you do not deliver!3 Why do you force me to witness injustice?[b]Why do you put up with wrongdoing?[c]Destruction and vio...
Read More