Habakkuk 1:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Ps 119:126 : 126 It is time for the LORD to act– they break your law!
  • Ezek 9:9 : 9 He said to me,“The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption, for they say,‘The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see!’
  • Job 21:7 : 7 The Wicked Prosper“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?
  • Ps 94:20-21 : 20 Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws. 21 They conspire against the blameless, and condemn to death the innocent.
  • Isa 1:21-23 : 21 Purifying Judgment How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers. 22 Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water. 23 Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.
  • Isa 5:20 : 20 Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.
  • Jer 12:1 : 1 LORD, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?
  • Ps 58:1-2 : 1 For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David. Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly? 2 No! You plan how to do what is unjust; you deal out violence in the earth.
  • Ps 59:2 : 2 Deliver me from evildoers! Rescue me from violent men!
  • Ps 59:4 : 4 Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!
  • Ps 82:1-5 : 1 A psalm of Asaph. God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment. 2 He says,“How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked?(Selah) 3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering! 4 Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked! 5 They neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble.
  • Ps 94:3 : 3 O LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked celebrate?
  • Exod 23:2 : 2 “You must not follow a crowd in doing evil things; in a lawsuit you must not offer testimony that agrees with a crowd so as to pervert justice,
  • Exod 23:6 : 6 “You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.
  • Deut 16:19 : 19 You must not pervert justice or show favor. Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort the words of the righteous.
  • 1 Kgs 21:13 : 13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying,“Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death.
  • Jer 12:6 : 6 As a matter of fact, even your own brothers and the members of your own family have betrayed you too. Even they have plotted to do away with you. So do not trust them even when they say kind things to you.
  • Jer 26:8 : 8 Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once some of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted,“You deserve to die!
  • Jer 26:21-23 : 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his bodyguards and officials heard what he was prophesying, the king sought to have him executed. But Uriah found out about it and fled to Egypt out of fear. 22 However, King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt, including Elnathan son of Achbor, 23 and they brought Uriah back from there. They took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and had his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
  • Jer 37:14-16 : 14 Jeremiah answered,“That’s a lie! I am not deserting to the Babylonians.” But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah put Jeremiah under arrest and took him to the officials. 15 The officials were very angry at Jeremiah. They had him flogged and put in prison in the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary, which they had converted into a place for confining prisoners. 16 So Jeremiah was put in prison in a cell in the dungeon in Jonathan’s house. He was kept there for a long time.
  • Jer 38:4-6 : 4 So these officials said to the king,“This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.” 5 King Zedekiah said to them,“Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you.” 6 So the officials took Jeremiah and put him in the cistern of Malkijah, one of the royal princes, that was in the courtyard of the guardhouse. There was no water in the cistern, only mud. So when they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes he sank in the mud.
  • Isa 59:2-8 : 2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. 3 For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words. 4 No one is concerned about justice; no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words and tell lies; they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin. 5 They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, a poisonous snake is hatched. 6 Their webs cannot be used for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are sinful; they commit violent crimes. 7 They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy. 8 They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.
  • Isa 59:13-15 : 13 We have rebelled and tried to deceive the LORD; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds. 14 Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter. 15 Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The LORD watches and is displeased, for there is no justice.
  • Jer 5:27-29 : 27 Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught, their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit. That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful. 28 That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor. 29 I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the LORD.“I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!
  • Ezek 22:25-30 : 25 Her princes within her are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they have devoured lives. They take away riches and valuable things; they have made many women widows within it. 26 Her priests abuse my law and have desecrated my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the profane, or recognize any distinction between the unclean and the clean. They ignore my Sabbaths and I am profaned in their midst. 27 Her officials are like wolves in her midst rending their prey– shedding blood and destroying lives– so they can get dishonest profit. 28 Her prophets coat their messages with whitewash. They see false visions and announce lying omens for them, saying,‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have wronged the poor and needy; they have oppressed the resident foreigner and denied them justice. 30 “I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
  • Hos 10:4 : 4 They utter empty words, taking false oaths and making empty agreements. Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field.
  • Amos 5:7 : 7 The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground.
  • Amos 5:12 : 12 Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate.
  • Mic 2:1-2 : 1 Land Robbers Will Lose Their Land Beware wicked schemers, those who devise calamity as they lie in bed. As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans, because they have the power to do so. 2 They confiscate the fields they desire, and seize the houses they want. They defraud people of their homes, and deprive people of the land they have inherited.
  • Mic 3:1-3 : 1 God Will Judge Judah’s Sinful Leaders I said,“Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just, 2 yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people’s skin and rip the flesh from their bones. 3 You devour my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and crush their bones. You chop them up like flesh in a pot– like meat in a kettle.
  • Mic 7:2-4 : 2 Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left. They all wait in ambush to shed blood; they hunt their own brother with a net. 3 They are experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men announce what they wish and then they plan it out. 4 The best of them is like a thorn; their godly are like a thorn bush. Woe to your watchmen; your appointed punishment is on the way. The time of their confusion is now.
  • Matt 23:34-36 : 34 “For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 35 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
  • Matt 26:59-66 : 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared,“This man said,‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So the high priest stood up and said to him,“Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him,“I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him,“You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,“He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?” They answered,“He is guilty and deserves death.”
  • Matt 27:1-2 : 1 Jesus Brought Before Pilate When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 2 They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
  • Matt 27:25-26 : 25 In reply all the people said,“Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
  • Mark 7:9 : 9 He also said to them,“You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.
  • Acts 7:52 : 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!
  • Acts 7:59 : 59 They continued to stone Stephen while he prayed,“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”
  • Acts 23:12-14 : 12 The Plot to Kill Paul When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said,“We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of anything until we have killed Paul.
  • Rom 3:31 : 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.
  • Jas 2:6-7 : 6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?
  • Ps 11:3 : 3 When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?”
  • Ps 22:16 : 16 Yes, wild dogs surround me– a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Hab 1:3
    80%

    3Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.

  • Isa 59:14-15
    2 verses
    78%

    14Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter.

    15Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The LORD watches and is displeased, for there is no justice.

  • Eccl 3:16
    77%

    16The Problem of Injustice and Oppression I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

  • Isa 5:23
    77%

    23They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.

  • Jer 5:28-29
    2 verses
    76%

    28That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor.

    29I will certainly punish them for doing such things!” says the LORD.“I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!

  • Jer 12:1
    75%

    1LORD, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

  • Amos 5:7
    75%

    7The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground.

  • Job 8:3
    75%

    3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

  • Job 36:17
    75%

    17But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you.

  • Isa 59:8-9
    2 verses
    75%

    8They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.

    9Israel Confesses its Sin For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.

  • Prov 21:7
    75%

    7The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they have refused to do what is right.

  • Eccl 8:11
    74%

    11When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

  • Deut 25:1
    74%

    1If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty.

  • Mic 7:3
    74%

    3They are experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men announce what they wish and then they plan it out.

  • Isa 10:1-2
    2 verses
    74%

    1Beware, those who enact unjust policies, those who are always instituting unfair regulations,

    2to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans.

  • Job 19:7
    73%

    7Job’s Abandonment and Affliction“If I cry out,‘Violence!’ I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice.

  • Ps 37:32
    73%

    32Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.

  • Ps 82:2
    73%

    2He says,“How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked?(Selah)

  • Ps 1:5
    73%

    5For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

  • Job 9:24
    73%

    24If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

  • Ps 94:20
    73%

    20Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws.

  • Prov 28:4
    72%

    4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.

  • Job 34:17
    72%

    17Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely Righteous One,

  • Zeph 3:5
    72%

    5The just LORD resides within her; he commits no unjust acts. Every morning he reveals his justice. At dawn he appears without fail. Yet the unjust know no shame.

  • Hab 1:13
    72%

    13You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?

  • Isa 26:10
    72%

    10If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the LORD’s majesty revealed.

  • Prov 17:15
    72%

    15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent– both of them are an abomination to the LORD.

  • Mal 2:17
    72%

    17Resistance to the Lord through Self-deceit You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say,“How have we wearied him?” Because you say,“Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or“Where is the God of justice?”

  • Eccl 8:14
    72%

    14Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said,“This also is an enigma.”

  • Amos 5:12
    72%

    12Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate.

  • Isa 59:4
    72%

    4No one is concerned about justice; no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words and tell lies; they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin.

  • Isa 29:21
    72%

    21those who bear false testimony against a person, who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges.

  • Job 34:12
    72%

    12Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

  • Isa 1:17
    72%

    17Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

  • Mic 3:9
    71%

    9Listen to this, you leaders of the family of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You hate justice and pervert all that is right.

  • Job 31:3
    71%

    3Is it not misfortune for the unjust, and disaster for those who work iniquity?

  • Ps 55:11
    71%

    11Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.

  • Exod 23:6
    71%

    6“You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.

  • Eccl 7:15
    71%

    15Exceptions to the Law of Retribution During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

  • Job 36:6
    71%

    6He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor.

  • Amos 5:24
    71%

    24Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.

  • Ps 94:15
    71%

    15For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated.

  • Eccl 5:8
    71%

    8Government Corruption If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

  • Ps 7:9
    71%

    9May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

  • Ps 125:3
    71%

    3Indeed, the scepter of a wicked king will not settle upon the allotted land of the godly. Otherwise the godly might do what is wrong.

  • Prov 18:5
    71%

    5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice.