Habakkuk 1
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Chapter 1
Chapter Overview:
Verses:
The prophet complains of the violence practised by the Jews, ver. 1 - 4.
God foretells the punishment of it, ver. 5 - 11.
The prophet complains of the mischief done by the Chaldeans, ver. 12 - 17.
| 1:1 | The burden - The prophet seems to speak of these grievous things, as a burden which he himself groaned under. |
| 1:4 | Therefore - Because the wicked go on with impunity.The law - The whole law, moral, ceremonial, and judicial.Is slacked - Is slighted, and not observed. Go forth - From magistrates, judges, and public officers. Doth compass about - As it were besieges, with design to oppress and ruin. |
| 1:5 | Behold ye - Here God begins to answer the prophet.Among the heathen - See what judgments have been executed upon the heathen for like sins. |
| 1:6 | Bitter - Cruel, and without mercy. Hasty - Speedy in executing their merciless purposes. |
| 1:7 | Their judgment - The law they observe, is their own will.Their dignity - Their authority is all from themselves, without respect to any other law or rule whatever. |
| 1:8 | The evening wolves - Which with fasting in the day, came out in the evening, fierce and ravenous. Shall spread - All over the land. |
| 1:9 | For violence - To enrich themselves by making a prey of all.Their faces - Their very countenances shall be as blasting as the east - wind. |
| 1:10 | At the kings - Which opposed their designs.And take it - By mighty mounts cast up. |
| 1:12 | Shall not die - Be utterly destroyed. Ordained - Set up, and designed. Them - The Chaldean kingdom. For judgment - To execute this judgment, which is tempered with mercy. For correction - To chastise, not to destroy. |
| 1:14 | And makest - Not infusing cruel appetites, but permitting them to act according to such appetite which was already in them.As the fishes - Of which the greater greedily devour the smaller.Creeping things - Which in the waters are food for the lesser fry; so the world, like the sea, is wholly oppression.No ruler - None to defend the weak, or restrain the mighty. |
| 1:15 | They - The Chaldeans draw out all alike, good or bad.In their net - Destroying many together. And gather - As if they could never have enough, they drive men into their nets. |
| 1:16 | They sacrifice - Ascribe the praise of their victories.Their net - To their own contrivances, diligence, and power. |
| 1:17 | Empty their net - As fisher - men empty the full net to fill it again. |