Charles Ellicott Commentary Habakkuk 1:2

"O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save." — Habakkuk 1:2 (ASV)

Even cry out. —The latter half of the verse is best rendered “Even cry to you, ‘Violence!’ and you will not save.” The single word “violence!” (châmâs) occurs elsewhere, as an appeal for assistance, used as we use the cry “murder!” “fire!” etc., among ourselves. (See Jeremiah 20:8, Job 19:7.)