The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
The Argument - The Prophet complains to God, considering the great
felicity of the wicked, and the miserable oppression of the godly, who
endure all types of affliction and cruelty, and yet can see no end.
Therefore he had this revelation shown to him by G... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out
to thee (a) [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!
(a) The Prophet complains to God, and bewails that among the Jews is
left no fairness and brotherly love: but instead of these reigns
cruelty, theft, contention, and strife.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the law is feeble, and judgment doth never go forth: for the
wicked doth (b) surround the righteous; therefore judgment goeth forth
(c) perverted
(b) To suppress him, if any should show himself zealous of God's
cause.
(c) Because the judges who should remedy this excess, are as evil as
t... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold ye among the nations, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for
[I] will work a work in your days, [which] (d) ye will not believe,
though it be told [you].
(d) As in times past you would not believe God's word, so you will not
now believe the strange plagues which are at hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
They [are] terrible and dreadful: (e) their judgment and their dignity
shall proceed from themselves.
(e) They themselves will be your judges in this cause, and none will
have authority over them to control them.... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up [as] the
(f) east wind, and they shall gather the captives (g) as the sand.
(f) For the Jews most feared this wind, because it destroyed their
fruits.
(g) They will be so many in number.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to
them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap (h)
dust, and take it.
(h) They will cast up mounds against it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall (i) pass over, and offend,
[imputing] this his power to his god.
(i) The Prophet comforts the faithful that God will also destroy the
Babylonians, because they will abuse this victory, and become proud
and insolent, attributing the praise of this to their... [ Continue Reading ]
[Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? we shall
not (k) die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O
mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
(k) He assures the godly of God's protection, showing that the enemy
can do no more than God has appointed,... [ Continue Reading ]
And makest men as the (l) fishes of the sea, as the creeping animals,
[that have] no ruler over them?
(l) So that the great devours the small, and the Chaldeans destroy all
the world.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they sacrifice to their (m) net, and burn incense to their
drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and their food
plenteous.
(m) Meaning that the enemies flatter themselves, and glory in their
own strength, power, and intellect.... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to
slay (n) the nations?
(n) Meaning, that they would not.... [ Continue Reading ]