How long, O Lord, will I cry aloud,
and you will not listen?
After being wronged, I will cry to you,
and you will not save?
Why did you show me troubles and toils,
to look upon distress and impiety?
A judgment has come against me,
and the judge is receiving.
On account of this, the law has been rejected,
and judgment is not brought to an end,
because an impious person oppresses the righteous;
for this reason the judgment will come forth perverted.
I will stand firm on my watch,
and I will go upon a rock,
and I will keep watch to see what he will say to me
and what I should answer against my rebuke.
And the Lord answered me and said,
“Write a vision, and clearly onto a tablet,
in order that the one who reads might pursue the things.
Because there is still a vision for the time,
and he will appear at an end, and not in vain;
if he is late, wait for him,
because one coming will be present, and he will not tarry.
If he draws back, My soul does not find pleasure in it,
but the righteous one will live by My faith. (Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 LXX)
The all-merciful and beneficent Father has [a heart for] those who fear him, and kindly and lovingly He bestows His favors upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Therefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind and of a doubting heart; who say, ‘These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers, but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us.’” You foolish ones! Compare yourselves with a tree; take the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; afterwards comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. You perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry,” and “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the holy one, for whom you look.”
Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 23
Do not offer the words only to those now uncertain about these matters; instead, transmit the record of them in writing also to those coming later, since what will be said is applicable to the latter rather than the former, the prophecy taking effect after a long time. He then urges them also to look forward to the fulfillment, and have no qualms about the lapse of time beforehand. The import of the prophecy is true, so have no doubts, even if you do not see the fulfillment for a long period of time; it will definitely come to pass and not remained unfulfilled. The victim of a wavering attitude to the promises made by Me is unworthy of My care, whereas the one who believes in what is said by Me and lives a life in keeping with that faith will reap the fruit of life. Realize this, therefore, and accept in faith what is revealed to you.
Theodoret of Cyrus, Commentary on Habakkuk 2
