We have seen that the course of events which troubles Habakkuk and renders the Torah ineffectual is somewhat obscure. On one interpretation of these two chapters, that which takes the present order of their verses as the original, Habakkuk asks why God is silent in face of the injustice which fills the whole horizon (chap. i. 1-4), is told to look round among the heathen and see how God is raising up the Chaldeans (i. 5-11), presumably to punish this injustice (if it be Israel’s own) or to overthrow it (if vv. 1-4 mean that it is inflicted on Israel by a foreign power). But the Chaldeans only aggravate the prophet’s problem; they themselves are a wicked and oppressive people: how can God suffer them? (i. 12-17). Then come the prophet’s waiting for an answer (ii. 1) and the answer itself (ii. 2 ff.). Another interpretation takes the passage about the Chaldeans (i. 5-11) to be out of place where it now lies, removes it to after chap. ii. 4 as a part of God’s answer to the prophet’s problem, and leaves the remainder of chap. i. as the description of the Assyrian oppression of Israel, baffling the Torah and perplexing the prophet’s faith in a Holy and Just God.[345] Of these two views the former is, we have seen, somewhat artificial, and though the latter is by no means proved, the arguments for it are sufficient to justify us in re-arranging the verses chap. i.—ii. 4 in accordance with its proposals. _The Oracle which Habakkuk the Prophet Received by Vision._[346] _How long, O Jehovah, have I called and Thou hearest not? I cry to Thee, Wrong! and Thou sendest no help. Why make me look upon sorrow, And fill mine eyes with trouble? Violence and wrong are before me, Strife comes and quarrel arises.[347] So the Law is benumbed, and judgment never gets forth:[348] For the wicked beleaguers the righteous, So judgment comes forth perverted._[349] * * * * * _Art not Thou of old, Jehovah, my God, my Holy One?...[350] Purer of eyes than to behold evil, And that canst not gaze upon trouble! Why gazest Thou upon traitors,[351] Art dumb when the wicked swallows him that is more righteous than he?[352] Thou hast let men be made[353] like fish of the sea, Like worms that have no ruler![354] He lifts the whole of it with his angle; Draws it in with his net, sweeps it in his drag-net: So rejoices and exults. So he sacrifices to his net, and offers incense to his drag-net; For by them is his portion fat, and his food rich. Shall he for ever draw his sword,[355] And ceaselessly, ruthlessly massacre nations?[356]_ _Upon my watch-tower I will stand, And take my post on the rampart.[357] I will watch to see what He will say to me, And what answer I[358] get back to my plea._