Contradiction with Psalm 37:28
This verse states that the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints, while Habakkuk 1:17 questions the ongoing injustice and suffering.
Psalm 37:28: For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Contradiction with Proverbs 21:15
This verse indicates that justice brings joy to the righteous, while Habakkuk 1:17 laments the lack of justice.
Proverbs 21:15: [It is] joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.
Contradiction with Proverbs 11:21
This verse assures that the wicked will not go unpunished, contradicting the apparent triumph of injustice in Habakkuk 1:17.
Proverbs 11:21: [Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Contradiction with Isaiah 61:8
This verse declares that the Lord loves justice and hates robbery and wrongdoing, in contrast to the toleration of injustice in Habakkuk 1:17.
Isaiah 61:8: For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Contradiction with Jeremiah 9:24
Here, God delighting in justice seems to oppose the ongoing and unchecked wrongdoing described in Habakkuk 1:17.
Jeremiah 9:24: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.
Contradiction with Psalm 94:23
This verse affirms that God will bring back the iniquity upon the wicked, contrary to the despair over unchecked wickedness in Habakkuk 1:17.
Psalm 94:23: And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Paradox #1
The verse in question might raise concerns regarding God's justice and the prosperity of the wicked. Some people may see a contradiction because it seems like the wicked are allowed to succeed without punishment, while other parts of the Bible emphasize God's judgment and justice. This can lead to confusion about why wrongdoers sometimes seem to flourish.
Paradox #2
The contradiction or conflict in Habakkuk 1:17 could arise from questioning why injustice and oppression seem to go unpunished. The struggle lies in reconciling the apparent success of the wicked with the belief in a just and fair God. Believers may find it hard to understand why bad actions appear to succeed without consequence.