Habakkuk 1:4

“Therefore the law is slacked, etc.] Is not put into execution against offenders: the civil magistrates, whose office it is to do justice according to law, are dilatory, and do not proceed with vigour and spirit against the transgressors of it, and in favour of honest and good men oppressed: or “it intermits”f17, or is “intermitted”; it is like a man whose pulse beats low, and is scarce perceived, which is a sign that he is not in good health as the body politic is not, when the law, which is the soul of it, is not suffered to take place, and do its office. So the Targum, “the law languishes;” loses its force and vigour, and is ready to expire; which is a sad symptom of the bad estate of a…”

“Therefore--because Thou dost suffer such crimes to go unpunished. law is slacked--is chilled. It has no authority and secures no respect. judgment--justice. wrong judgment proceedeth--Decisions are given contrary to right.”

“Therefore - i. e., Because God seemed not to awake to avenge His own cause, people promised themselves that they might sin on with impunity. Sin produces sin, and wrong produces wrong; it spreads like an infectious disease, propagating itself, and each, to whom it reaches, adds to its poison. At last, it reached those also, who should be in God’s stead to restrain it. The divine law itself is silenced, by the power of the wicked, by the sin of the judge, the hopelessness of all. When all around is evil, even those not yet lost are tempted to think; “Why should I be other than they? What evil befalls them? Why stand alone?” Even a Psalmist Psalms 73:15, Psalms 73:12-13 speaks as if tempted to…”

“Therefore - Because the wicked go on with impunity. The law - The whole law, moral, ceremonial, and judicial. Is slacked - Is slighted, and not observed. Go forth - From magistrates, judges, and public officers. Doth compass about - As it were besieges, with design to oppress and ruin. Habakkuk 1:5”

“1:4 Habakkuk expresses his concern about the injustice and unrighteousness he saw all around him (see 1:12-13; 2:4, 9), even in the courts, where the law was no longer effective in maintaining justice.”

“the law: Psa 11:3, Psa 119:126; Mar 7:9; Rom 3:31 for: Kg1 21:13; Job 21:7; Psa 22:16, Psa 58:1, Psa 58:2, Psa 59:2, Psa 59:4, Psa 82:1-5, Psa 94:3, Psa 94:20, Psa 94:21; Isa 1:21-23, Isa 59:2-8, Isa 59:13-15; Jer 5:27-29, Jer 12:1, Jer 12:6, Jer 26:8, Jer 26:21-23; Jer 37:14-16, Jer 38:4-6; Eze 22:25-30; Hos 10:4; Amo 5:7, Amo 5:12; Mic 2:1, Mic 2:2; Mic 3:1-3, Mic 7:2-4; Mat 23:34-36, Mat 26:59-66, Mat 27:1, Mat 27:2, Mat 27:25, Mat 27:26; Act 7:52, Act 7:59; Act 23:12-14; Jam 2:6, Jam 2:7 wrong: or, wrested, Exo 23:2, Exo 23:6; Deu 16:19; Eze 9:9 Habakkuk 1:5”