Habakkuk 1:3

3 Why showedest thou to me wickedness and travail, for to see prey and unrightwiseness against me? Why beholdest thou despisers, and art still, the while the unpious man defouleth a right-fuller than himself? And thou shalt make men as fishes of the sea, and as creeping things not having a leader; and doom is made, and against-saying is more mighty. (Why hast thou shown me wickedness and struggle, in order to see robbery and unrighteousness done against me? Why beholdest thou despisers, and art silent, while the wicked defile someone more upright than themselves? Shalt thou make people like the fish of the sea, and like the creeping things that do not have a leader? yea, judgement is made, or justice is given, but saying against, or contention, is more mighty, or more powerful.)

Habakkuk 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.

Habakkuk 1:3 In-Context

1 The burden that Habakkuk, the prophet, saw. (The vision that the prophet Habakkuk saw.)

2 How long, Lord, shall I cry, and thou shalt not hear? I suffering violence shall cry on high to thee, and thou shalt not save? (How long, Lord, shall I cry, and thou shalt not hear me? I suffering violence shall cry aloud to thee, and shalt thou not save me?)

3 Why showedest thou to me wickedness and travail, for to see prey and unrightwiseness against me? Why beholdest thou despisers, and art still, the while the unpious man defouleth a right-fuller than himself? And thou shalt make men as fishes of the sea, and as creeping things not having a leader; and doom is made, and against-saying is more mighty. (Why hast thou shown me wickedness and struggle, in order to see robbery and unrighteousness done against me? Why beholdest thou despisers, and art silent, while the wicked defile someone more upright than themselves? Shalt thou make people like the fish of the sea, and like the creeping things that do not have a leader? yea, judgement is made, or justice is given, but saying against, or contention, is more mighty, or more powerful.)

4 For this thing law is broken, and doom cometh not till to the end; for the unpious man hath might against the just, therefore wayward doom shall go out. (And so because of this, the law is broken, and judgement, or justice, cometh not unto its proper end; for the wicked have might, or power, against the just, or the righteous, and so perverted justice, or warped judgement, shall go forth.)

5 Behold ye in heathen men, and see ye, and wonder ye, and greatly dread ye; for a work is done in your days, which no man shall believe, when it shall be told. (Behold ye the heathen, and see ye, and wonder ye, and greatly fear ye; for a work is done in your days, which no one shall believe, when it shall be told to them.)