Habakkuk 1:13 bbe — Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the fal…

Bible in Basic English

"Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?"

— Habakkuk 1:13, Bible in Basic English

Read in Another Translation

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Habakkuk 1:13 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”

  • ASV

    “Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he; ”

  • WEB

    “You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,”

  • NET

    “You 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?”

  • DRB

    “Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself?”

  • KJVA

    “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”

Habakkuk 1 — Context

10

He makes little of kings, rulers are a sport to him; all the strong places are to be laughed at; for he makes earthworks and takes them.

11

Then his purpose will be changed, over-stepping the limit; he will make his strength his god.

12

Are you not eternal, O Lord my God, my Holy One? for you there is no death. O Lord, he has been ordered by you for our punishment; and by you, O Rock, he has been marked out to put us right.

13

Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?

14

He has made men like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.

15

He takes them all up with his hook, he takes them in his net, getting them together in his fishing-net: for which cause he is glad and full of joy.

16

For this reason he makes an offering to his net, burning perfume to his fishing-net; because by them he gets much food and his meat is fat.

Habakkuk 1:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Habakkuk 1:13 say?
Habakkuk 1:13 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?”
Where is Habakkuk 1:13 in the Bible?
Habakkuk 1:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 13.
Who wrote Habakkuk?
Habakkuk is traditionally attributed to Habakkuk. It was written c. 612–589 BC.
What is the book of Habakkuk about?
Habakkuk dares to argue with God about injustice — and God answers. The prophet learns that the just shall live by faith, and the book ends with one of Scripture's great hymns of trust: "yet I will rejoice in the LORD."
What are the major themes of Habakkuk?
Habakkuk explores themes including Faith, Justice, Trust, Sovereignty, Joy in Trial. These themes shape the meaning and context of Habakkuk 1:13.
What translation should I read Habakkuk 1:13 in?
Habakkuk 1:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Habakkuk 1:13?
Habakkuk 1:13 reads (BBE): “Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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