New International Version How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? New Living Translation How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. English Standard Version O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Berean Standard Bible How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? Berean Literal Bible Until when, O YHWH, will I cry out, and you will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” And will you not save? King James Bible O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! New King James Version O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. New American Standard Bible How long, LORD, have I called for help, And You do not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. NASB 1995 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. NASB 1977 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And Thou wilt not hear? I cry out to Thee, “Violence!” Yet Thou dost not save. Legacy Standard Bible How long, O Yahweh, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. Amplified Bible O LORD, how long will I call for help And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. Berean Annotated Bible How long, O LORD {YHWH}, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence! but You do not save? Christian Standard Bible How long, LORD, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? Holman Christian Standard Bible How long, LORD, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? American Standard Version O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Contemporary English Version Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence? English Revised Version O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. GOD'S WORD® Translation How long, O LORD, am I to cry for help, but you will not listen? I cry out to you, "There's violence!" yet you will not come to the rescue. Good News Translation O LORD, how long must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence? International Standard Version "How long, LORD, must I cry out for help, but you won't listen? I'm crying out to you, 'Violence!' but you aren't providing deliverance. NET Bible How long, LORD, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, "Violence!" But you do not intervene! New Heart English Bible LORD, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you "Violence." and will you not save? Webster's Bible Translation O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out to thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHow long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? World English Bible Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionUntil when, O YHWH, have I cried, "" And You do not hear? I cry to You, “Violence!” And You do not save. Berean Literal Bible Until when, O YHWH, will I cry out, and you will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” And will you not save? Young's Literal Translation Till when, O Jehovah, have I cried, And Thou dost not hear? I cry unto Thee -- 'Violence,' and Thou dost not save. Smith's Literal Translation How long, O Jehovah, did I cry for help, and thou wilt not bear? I will cry to thee violence, and thou wilt not save. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHow long, O Lord, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? shall I cry out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save? Catholic Public Domain Version How long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and you will not heed? Shall I shout to you while suffering violence, and you will not save? New American Bible How long, O LORD, must I cry for help and you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” and you do not intervene? New Revised Standard Version O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleO LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry to thee because of the plunderers, and thou wilt not deliver! Peshitta Holy Bible Translated How long, LORD JEHOVAH, will I cry, and you do not hear, and I cry out to you because of extortionists, and you do not deliver? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917How long, O LORD, shall I cry, And Thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto Thee of violence, And Thou wilt not save. Brenton Septuagint Translation How long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and thou wilt not hearken? how long shall I cry out to thee being injured, and thou wilt not save? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Habakkuk's Complaint1This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision: 2How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? 3Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.… Cross References How long, O LORD, must I call for help Psalm 13:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? Psalm 6:3 My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long? Psalm 22:2 I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest. but You do not hear, Psalm 28:1 Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Isaiah 59:1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. / But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. or cry out to You, “Violence!” Jeremiah 20:8 For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long. Psalm 55:9-11 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. / Day and night they encircle the walls, while malice and trouble lie within. / Destruction is within; oppression and deceit never leave the streets. Genesis 6:11-13 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. / And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways. / Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. but You do not save? Psalm 44:23-26 Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever. / Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression? / For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth. … Psalm 74:11 Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them! Psalm 80:3 Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved. Psalm 22:1-2 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning? / I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest. Jeremiah 14:9 Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us! Lamentations 3:8 Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer. Job 19:7 Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. Treasury of Scripture O LORD, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear! even cry out to you of violence, and you will not save! how. Psalm 13:1,2 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? … Psalm 74:9,10 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long… Psalm 94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? and thou wilt not save. Psalm 22:1,2 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? … Jeremiah 14:9 Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. Lamentations 3:8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. Jump to Previous Behaviour Cried Cry Ears Hear Help Outcry Salvation Save Shut Violence Violent Voice WiltJump to Next Behaviour Cried Cry Ears Hear Help Outcry Salvation Save Shut Violence Violent Voice WiltHabakkuk 1 1. Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land,5. is shown the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans. 12. He complains that vengeance should be executed by them who are far worse. How long, O LORD, must I call for help Habakkuk opens with a lament over the corruption and injustice spreading through Judah. He appeals to Yahweh as the covenant God, whose righteousness and faithfulness give His people reason to expect justice. Psa 13:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD?… but You do not hear, God’s apparent delay does not mean He is indifferent or absent. Habakkuk records the anguish of watching evil continue while divine judgment seems withheld. Psa 28:1 Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock.… or cry out to You, “Violence!” Judah was marked by oppression, wrongdoing, and the abuse of power. The prophet brings the nation’s moral collapse before God and asks Him to confront those responsible. Jer 20:8 For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence… but You do not save? Habakkuk struggles with the gap between God’s character as Deliverer and Judah’s present suffering. The Lord will answer, not by ignoring evil, but by revealing that He has already appointed judgment against the wicked. Psa 44:23-26 Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise!…… Persons / Places / Events 1. HabakkukA prophet in the Old Testament, Habakkuk is known for his dialogue with God, expressing deep concern over the moral and spiritual decline of Judah and the apparent silence of God in the face of injustice. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, where Habakkuk prophesied. During his time, Judah was experiencing significant moral and social decay, leading to Habakkuk's lament. 3. Violence and Injustice The societal conditions that prompted Habakkuk's cry to God. The prophet was deeply troubled by the rampant violence and injustice he witnessed. Teaching Points The Struggle with Divine SilenceBelievers often experience times when God seems silent. Habakkuk's honest dialogue with God encourages us to bring our questions and frustrations to Him in prayer. God's Sovereignty and Timing While God's timing may not align with our expectations, His sovereignty assures us that He is in control and working all things for His purposes. Faith in the Midst of Injustice Even when faced with overwhelming injustice, believers are called to maintain faith, trusting that God will ultimately bring justice and righteousness. The Role of Lament in Faith Lament is a biblical expression of faith, allowing believers to process grief and confusion while still holding onto hope in God's promises. Active Waiting on God While waiting for God's intervention, believers are encouraged to remain active in prayer, service, and seeking justice in their communities. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Habakkuk 1:2?2. How does Habakkuk 1:2 reflect our struggles with unanswered prayers today? 3. What does Habakkuk 1:2 teach about God's timing and justice? 4. How can we maintain faith when feeling unheard, like Habakkuk in 1:2? 5. Compare Habakkuk 1:2 with Psalm 13:1. What similarities do you find? 6. How can we apply Habakkuk's persistence in prayer to our daily lives? 7. Why does God allow suffering and injustice as questioned in Habakkuk 1:2? 8. How does Habakkuk 1:2 challenge our understanding of God's timing in answering prayers? 9. What historical context influenced Habakkuk's cry for help in Habakkuk 1:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Habakkuk 1? (2) Even cry out.--The latter half of the verse is best rendered "Even cry unto thee 'Violence!' and thou wilt not save." The single word "violence!" (chamas) occurs elsewhere, as an appeal for assistance, used as we use the cry "murder!" "fire!" &c., among ourselves. (See Jeremiah 20:8, Job 19:7.)Verses 2-4. - 2. The prophet complains to God of the iniquity of his own nation, and its consequence. Verse 2. - Shall I cry; Septuagint, κέκραξομαι. The Hebrew is taken to imply that the prophet had long been complaining of the moral depravity of Judah, and calling for help against it There is no reference here, as Ewald fancies, to acts of violence committed by the Chaldeans, who, in fact, are announced as coming to chastise the wickedness of the chosen people (ver. 6). And thou wilt not hear! The continuance of evil unchecked is an anomaly in the prophet's eye; and, putting himself in the position of the righteous among the people, he asks how long this is to last. Even cry out unto thee of violence; better, I cry out unto thee, Violence. A similar construction is found in Job 19:7; Jeremiah 20:8. "Violence" includes all manner of wrong done to one's neighbour. Septuagint, Βοήσομαι πρὸς σὲ ἀδικούμενος, "I will cry unto thee being wronged," as if the wrong was done to the prophet himself. So the Vulgate, Vociferabor ad te vim patiens. But Habakkuk doubtless speaks in the person of the righteous, grieved at the wickedness he sees around, and the more perplexed as the Law led him to look for temporal rewards and punishments, if in the case of individuals, much more in that of the chosen nation (Leviticus 26, passim). Habakkuk 1:2 captures the heart-cry of a faithful believer wrestling with God’s timing and methods. The prophet’s lament affirms God’s covenant name, persists in prayer, denounces real evil, and confronts the apparent disconnect between God’s promises and present reality. Scripture consistently shows that such honest cries are heard, that God’s seeming delay serves His redemptive purposes, and that His salvation, though sometimes surprising, is always certain. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew How long,עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while O LORD, יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel must I call for help שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי (šiw·wa‘·tî) Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7768: To be free, to halloo but You do not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no hear, תִשְׁמָ֑ע (ṯiš·mā‘) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently or cry out אֶזְעַ֥ק (’ez·‘aq) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly to You, אֵלֶ֛יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to “Violence!” חָמָ֖ס (ḥā·mās) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain but You do not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no save? תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (ṯō·wō·šî·a‘) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3467: To be open, wide, free, to be safe, to free, succor Additonal Resources Habakkuk 1:2 Blue Letter BibleHabakkuk 1:2 Bible Gateway Habakkuk 1:2 Bible.com Habakkuk 1:2 NIV |
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