Habakkuk 1:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Why dost thou show me? it is a most unpleasing sight, and that which troubles me and every good man, to see unjust and injurious men without control, and unpunished, to act their iniquity; and yet, O God, thou not only permittest it to be done, but to be done in sight, and to the grief of thy servants: thus God showeth it, and it is not without just cause, though the cause be hidden. Iniquity; men of iniquity and vanity, unrighteous toward men, and vain in their thoughts and practices of religion toward God. And cause me to behold: this explains the former. Grievance: so it is in regard of the effect it hath upon beholders, and such as suffer by this iniquity; it is grief and sorrow to them, it is a grievance they groan under. For spoiling, such as wasteth, and undoeth them that fall under it, and violence, perverting judgment, and turning it into wormwood; or else it is a Hebraism, spoiling and violence, that is, most violent robbing and spoiling each other. Are before me; every where I see it, to the breaking of mine heart. There are that raise up strife; or, and there is strife, that is, little else but strife among men, occasioned by these oppressive practices. And contention: so it will be a Hebraism, expressing endless contentions. It would bear, and judgment is taken away, which suits the next verse. Why dost thou show me? it is a most unpleasing sight, and that which troubles me and every good man, to see unjust and injurious men without control, and unpunished, to act their iniquity; and yet, O God, thou not only permittest it to be done, but to be done in sight, and to the grief of thy servants: thus God showeth it, and it is not without just cause, though the cause be hidden. Iniquity; men of iniquity and vanity, unrighteous toward men, and vain in their thoughts and practices of religion toward God. And cause me to behold: this explains the former. Grievance: so it is in regard of the effect it hath upon beholders, and such as suffer by this iniquity; it is grief and sorrow to them, it is a grievance they groan under. For spoiling, such as wasteth, and undoeth them that fall under it, and violence, perverting judgment, and turning it into wormwood; or else it is a Hebraism, spoiling and violence, that is, most violent robbing and spoiling each other. Are before me; every where I see it, to the breaking of mine heart. There are that raise up strife; or, and there is strife, that is, little else but strife among men, occasioned by these oppressive practices. And contention: so it will be a Hebraism, expressing endless contentions. It would bear, and judgment is taken away, which suits the next verse.