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 1:6

1:6 Look, I am about to empower ⁷  the Babylonians,

that ruthless ⁸  and greedy ⁹  nation.

They sweep across the surface ¹⁰  of the earth,

seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.

Habakkuk 2:13

2:13 Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed:

The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke;

their exhausting work will be for nothing. ¹¹ 

Habakkuk 3:13

3:13 You march out to deliver your people,

to deliver your special servant. ¹² 

You strike the leader of the wicked nation, ¹³ 

laying him open from the lower body to the neck. ¹⁴  Selah.

[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.”

[1:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “raise up” (so KJV, ASV).

[1:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “bitter.” Other translation options for this word in this context include “fierce” (NASB, NRSV); “savage” (NEB); or “grim.”

[1:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “hasty, quick.” Some translate here “impetuous” (so NEB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “rash,” but in this context greed may very well be the idea. The Babylonians move quickly and recklessly ahead in their greedy quest to expand their empire.

[1:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the open spaces.”

[2:13]  ¹³ tn Heb “Is it not, look, from the Lord of hosts that the nations work hard for fire, and the peoples are exhausted for nothing?”

[3:13]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “anointed one.” In light of the parallelism with “your people” in the preceding line this could refer to Israel, but elsewhere the Lord’s anointed one is always an individual. The Davidic king is the more likely referent here.

[3:13]  ²⁰ tn Heb “you strike the head from the house of wickedness.”

[3:13]  ²¹ tn Heb “laying bare [from] foundation to neck.”