Habakkuk 1:4

1:4 For this reason the law lacks power, ¹ 

and justice is never carried out. ² 

Indeed, ³  the wicked intimidate ⁴  the innocent. ⁵ 

For this reason justice is perverted. ⁶ 

Habakkuk 1:15-17

1:15 The Babylonian tyrant ⁷  pulls them all up with a fishhook;

he hauls them in with his throw net. ⁸ 

When he catches ⁹  them in his dragnet,

he is very happy. ¹⁰ 

1:16 Because of his success ¹¹  he offers sacrifices to his throw net

and burns incense to his dragnet; ¹² 

for because of them he has plenty of food, ¹³ 

and more than enough to eat. ¹⁴ 

1:17 Will he then ¹⁵  continue to fill and empty his throw net? ¹⁶ 

Will he always ¹⁷  destroy ¹⁸  nations and spare none? ¹⁹ 

[1:4]  ¹ tn Heb “the law is numb,” i.e., like a hand that has “fallen asleep” (see Ps 77:2). Cf. NAB “is benumbed”; NIV “is paralyzed.”

[1:4]  ² tn Heb “never goes out.”

[1:4]  ³ tn Or “for.”

[1:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “surround” (so NASB, NRSV).

[1:4]  ⁵ tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[1:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “comes out crooked.”

[1:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Babylonian tyrant) has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NASB “The Chaldeans”; NIV “The wicked foe”; NRSV “The enemy”). Babylonian imperialism is here compared to a professional fisherman who repeatedly brings in his catch and has plenty to eat.

[1:15]  ⁸ tn Apparently two different types of fishing nets are referred to here. The חֵרֶם (kherem, “throw net”) was used by fishermen standing on the shore (see Ezek 47:10), while the מִכְמֶרֶת (mikhmeret, “dragnet”) was used by men in a boat. See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 165.

[1:15]  ⁹ tn Heb “and he gathers.”

[1:15]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Therefore he is happy and rejoices.” Here two synonyms are joined for emphasis.

[1:16]  ¹³ tn Heb “therefore.”

[1:16]  ¹⁴ sn The fishing implements (throw net and dragnet) represent Babylonian military might. The prophet depicts the Babylonians as arrogantly worshiping their own power (sacrifices…burns incense, see also v. 11b).

[1:16]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “for by them his portion is full [or, “fat”].”

[1:16]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “and his food is plentiful [or, “fat”].”

[1:17]  ¹⁹ tn Or “therefore.”

[1:17]  ²⁰ tn Heb “Will he then empty his throw net?” The words “continue to fill and” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[1:17]  ²¹ tn Or “continually.”

[1:17]  ²² tn Heb “kill.”

[1:17]  ²³ tn Or “without showing compassion.”