Habakkuk 1:7

1:7 They are frightening and terrifying;

they decide for themselves what is right. ¹ 

Habakkuk 1:13

1:13 You are too just ²  to tolerate ³  evil;

you are unable to condone ⁴  wrongdoing.

So why do you put up with such treacherous people? ⁵ 

Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour ⁶  those more righteous than they are? ⁷ 

[1:7]  ¹ tn Heb “from him his justice, even his lifting up, goes out.” In this context שְׂאֵת (sÿ’et) probably has the nuance “authority.” See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 150.

[1:13]  ² tn Heb “[you] are too pure of eyes.” God’s “eyes” here signify what he looks at with approval. His “eyes” are “pure” in that he refuses to tolerate any wrongdoing in his presence.

[1:13]  ³ tn Heb “to see.” Here “see” is figurative for “tolerate,” “put up with.”

[1:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “to look at.” Cf. NEB “who canst not countenance wrongdoing”; NASB “You can not look on wickedness with favor.”

[1:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “Why do you look at treacherous ones?” The verb בָּגַד (bagad, “be treacherous”) is often used of those who are disloyal or who violate agreements. See S. Erlandsson, TDOT 1:470-73.

[1:13]  ⁶ tn Or “swallow up.”

[1:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “more innocent than themselves.”