Hab 1:1
1:1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

  The Argument - The Prophet complains to God, considering the
    great felicity of the wicked, and the miserable oppression
    of the godly, who endure all types of affliction and
    cruelty, and yet can see no end.  Therefore he had this
    revelation shown to him by God, that the Chaldeans would
    come and take them away as captives, so that they could look
    for no end of their troubles as yet, because of their
    stubbornness and rebellion against the Lord.  And lest the
    godly should despair, seeing this horrible confusion, he
    comforts them by this, that God will punish the Chaldeans
    their enemies, when their pride and cruelty will be at
    height.  And for this reason he exhorts the faithful to
    patience by his own example, and shows them a form of
    prayer, with which they should comfort themselves.

Hab 1:2
1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even]
    cry out to thee {a} [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!

    (a) The Prophet complains to God, and bewails that among the
        Jews is left no fairness and brotherly love: but instead
        of these reigns cruelty, theft, contention, and strife.

Hab 1:4
1:4 Therefore the law is feeble, and judgment doth never go
    forth: for the wicked doth {b} surround the righteous;
    therefore judgment goeth forth {c} perverted

    (b) To suppress him, if any should show himself zealous of
        God's cause.
    (c) Because the judges who should remedy this excess, are as
        evil as the rest.

Hab 1:5
1:5 Behold ye among the nations, and regard, and wonder
    marvellously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which]
    {d} ye will not believe, though it be told [you].

    (d) As in times past you would not believe God's word, so
        you will not now believe the strange plagues which are
        at hand.

Hab 1:7
1:7 They [are] terrible and dreadful: {e} their judgment and
    their dignity shall proceed from themselves.

    (e) They themselves will be your judges in this cause, and
        none will have authority over them to control them.

Hab 1:9
1:9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up
    [as] the {f} east wind, and they shall gather the captives
    {g} as the sand.

    (f) For the Jews most feared this wind, because it destroyed
        their fruits.
    (g) They will be so many in number.

Hab 1:10
1:10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be
     a scorn to them: they shall deride every strong hold; for
     they shall heap {h} dust, and take it.

     (h) They will cast up mounds against it.

Hab 1:11
1:11 Then shall [his] mind change, and he shall {i} pass over,
     and offend, [imputing] this his power to his god.

     (i) The Prophet comforts the faithful that God will also
         destroy the Babylonians, because they will abuse this
         victory, and become proud and insolent, attributing the
         praise of this to their idols.

Hab 1:12
1:12 [Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy
     One? we shall not {k} die.  O LORD, thou hast ordained them
     for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them
     for correction.

     (k) He assures the godly of God's protection, showing that
         the enemy can do no more than God has appointed, and
         also that their sins require such a sharp rod.

Hab 1:14
1:14 And makest men as the {l} fishes of the sea, as the
     creeping animals, [that have] no ruler over them?

     (l) So that the great devours the small, and the Chaldeans
         destroy all the world.

Hab 1:16
1:16 Therefore they sacrifice to their {m} net, and burn incense
     to their drag; because by them their portion [is] fat, and
     their food plenteous.

     (m) Meaning that the enemies flatter themselves, and glory
         in their own strength, power, and intellect.

Hab 1:17
1:17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare
     continually to slay {n} the nations?

     (n) Meaning, that they would not.