Habacuc 1:3

3 Pourquoi me fais-tu voir l'iniquité, Et contemples-tu l'injustice? Pourquoi l'oppression et la violence sont-elles devant moi? Il y a des querelles, et la discorde s'élève.

Habacuc 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

Habakkuk 1:3

Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold
grievance?
&c.] That is, wicked men, and such as give a great deal of trouble vexation, and grief to others, by their rapine and oppression; suggesting that he could not turn his eyes any where, but such persons presented themselves to his view; and that their wicked actions were performed by them openly and publicly, in the sight of all, without any shame or fear. So the Targum,

``why do I see oppressors, and behold those that do the labour of falsehood?''

For spoiling and violence [are] before me;
in my sight and presence, though a prophet, and notwithstanding all my remonstrances, exhortations, and reproofs; such were the hardness, obstinacy, and impudence of this people; to such a height and pitch of iniquity were they arrived, as to regard not the prophets of the Lord. The Targum is,

``spoilers and robbers are before me:''

or, "against me" ^F17, as in the text; these sins were committed against him, he was injuriously used himself; or they were done to others, contrary to his advice and persuasion: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention;
in the kingdom, in cities, in families; in one man, brother, friend, and neighbour, against another; which occasion lawsuits, and in them justice is not done, as follows. It may be rendered, and "there shall be [and] is [a man] of strife"; so Japhet: "and he shall raise up contention"; one man given to strife will and does use great contention in communities, civil and religious.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (ydgnl) "contra me", Pagninus, Montanus; "e regione mei", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius.

Habacuc 1:3 In-Context

1 Oracle révélé à Habakuk, le prophète.

2 Jusqu'à quand, ô Eternel?... J'ai crié, Et tu n'écoutes pas! J'ai crié vers toi à la violence, Et tu ne secours pas!

3 Pourquoi me fais-tu voir l'iniquité, Et contemples-tu l'injustice? Pourquoi l'oppression et la violence sont-elles devant moi? Il y a des querelles, et la discorde s'élève.

4 Aussi la loi n'a point de vie, La justice n'a point de force; Car le méchant triomphe du juste, Et l'on rend des jugements iniques.

5 Jetez les yeux parmi les nations, regardez, Et soyez saisis d'étonnement, d'épouvante! Car je vais faire en vos jours une oeuvre, Que vous ne croiriez pas si on la racontait.