Habakkuk 2:9

2:9 The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. ¹ 

He does this so he can build his nest way up high

and escape the clutches of disaster. ² 

Habakkuk 1:13

1:13 You are too just ³  to tolerate ⁴  evil;

you are unable to condone ⁵  wrongdoing.

So why do you put up with such treacherous people? ⁶ 

Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour ⁷  those more righteous than they are? ⁸ 

[2:9]  ¹ tn Heb “Woe [to] the one who profits unjustly by evil unjust gain for his house.” On the term הוֹי (hoy) see the note on the word “dead” in v. 6.

[2:9]  ² tn Heb “to place his nest in the heights in order to escape from the hand of disaster.”

[1:13]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “to see.” Here “see” is figurative for “tolerate,” “put up with.”

[1:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “to look at.” Cf. NEB “who canst not countenance wrongdoing”; NASB “You can not look on wickedness with favor.”

[1:13]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Or “swallow up.”

[1:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “more innocent than themselves.”