Habakkuk’s Third Prayer
2
Lord, I have heard the report about You;
Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds.
Revive Your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In Your wrath remember mercy!
Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds.
Revive Your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In Your wrath remember mercy!
3
4
His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
5 rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
Plague goes before Him,
and pestilence follows in His steps.
6 and pestilence follows in His steps.
He stands and shakes(b) the earth;
He looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.
His pathways are ancient.
7
8 He looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.
His pathways are ancient.
Are You angry at the rivers, Lord?
Is Your wrath against the rivers?
Or is Your rage against the sea
when You ride on Your horses,
Your victorious chariot?
9
10
11 Is Your wrath against the rivers?
Or is Your rage against the sea
when You ride on Your horses,
Your victorious chariot?
Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,(G)
at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.
12 at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.
You march across the earth with indignation;
You trample down the nations in wrath.
13
14 You trample down the nations in wrath.
You pierce his head
with his own spears;
his warriors storm out to scatter us,
gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.
15
with his own spears;
his warriors storm out to scatter us,
gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.
Habakkuk’s Confidence in God Expressed
16
For the choir director: on(i) stringed instruments.
I heard, and I trembled within;(I)
my lips quivered at the sound.
Rottenness entered my bones;
I trembled where I stood.
Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress
to come against the people invading us.
17 my lips quivered at the sound.
Rottenness entered my bones;
I trembled where I stood.
Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress
to come against the people invading us.
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18
19 and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
Yahweh my Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like those of a deer(K)
and enables me to walk on mountain heights!(L)
He makes my feet like those of a deer(K)
and enables me to walk on mountain heights!(L)
For the choir director: on(i) stringed instruments.
Footnotes:
a.
Habakkuk 3:1: Perhaps a passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm, or a dirge
b.
Habakkuk 3:6: Or surveys
c.
Habakkuk 3:7: Midian
d.
Habakkuk 3:9: Or set
e.
Habakkuk 3:9: Hb obscure
f.
Habakkuk 3:10: Lit hands
g.
Habakkuk 3:13: The Davidic king or the nation of Israel
h.
Habakkuk 3:13: Lit foundation
i.
Habakkuk 3:19: Lit on my