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