Habakkuk’s First Complaint

[This is] the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:

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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?

3 

Why do You make me see iniquity?

Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence [are] before me.

Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.

4 

Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked hem in the righteous,

so that justice is perverted.

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