Habakkuk 3
English Standard Version
Habakkuk's Prayer
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.
2 O Lord, (A)I have heard the report of you,
and (B)your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years (C)revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
(D)in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from (E)Teman,
(F)and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of his praise.
4 (G)His brightness was like the light;
rays flashed from his hand;
and there he veiled his power.
5 (H)Before him went pestilence,
and plague followed (I)at his heels.[a]
6 He stood (J)and measured the earth;
he looked and shook the nations;
then the (K)eternal mountains (L)were scattered;
the everlasting hills sank low.
His were (M)the everlasting ways.
7 I saw the tents of (N)Cushan in affliction;
(O)the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 (P)Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?
Was your anger against the rivers,
(Q)or your indignation against the sea,
(R)when you rode on your horses,
(S)on your chariot of salvation?
9 You stripped the sheath from your bow,
calling for many arrows.[b] Selah
(T)You split the earth with rivers.
10 (U)The mountains saw you and writhed;
the raging waters swept on;
(V)the deep gave forth its voice;
(W)it lifted its hands on high.
11 (X)The sun and moon stood still in their place
(Y)at the light of your arrows as they sped,
at the flash of your glittering spear.
12 (Z)You marched through the earth in fury;
(AA)you threshed the nations in anger.
13 (AB)You went out for the salvation of your people,
for the salvation of (AC)your anointed.
(AD)You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,
laying him bare from thigh to neck.[c] Selah
14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,
who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,
rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.
15 (AE)You trampled the sea with your horses,
the surging of mighty waters.
16 (AF)I hear, and (AG)my body trembles;
my lips quiver at the sound;
(AH)rottenness enters into my bones;
my legs tremble beneath me.
Yet (AI)I will quietly wait for the day of trouble
to come upon people who invade us.
Habakkuk Rejoices in the Lord
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 (AJ)yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
(AK)I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
(AL)he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me (AM)tread on my (AN)high places.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 3:5 Hebrew feet
- Habakkuk 3:9 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
- Habakkuk 3:13 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
- Habakkuk 3:19 Hebrew my stringed
Habakkuk 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Habakkuk’s Third Prayer
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. According to Shigionoth.[a](A)
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!
3 God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.(B)
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of His praise.(C)
4 His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
5 Plague goes before Him,
and pestilence follows in His steps.
6 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 I see the tents of Cushan[c] in distress;
the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
8 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 You took the sheath from Your bow;
the arrows are ready[d] to be used with an oath.[e](D)
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains see You and shudder;(E)
a downpour of water sweeps by.
The deep roars with its voice(F)
and lifts its waves[f] high.
11 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 You march across the earth with indignation;
You trample down the nations in wrath.
13 You come out to save Your people,
to save Your anointed.[g]
You crush the leader of the house of the wicked
and strip him from foot[h] to neck.
14 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 You tread the sea with Your horses,
stirring up the great waters.(H)
Habakkuk’s Confidence in God Expressed
16 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 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 yet I will triumph in Yahweh;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!(J)
19 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)
For the choir director: on[i] stringed instruments.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 3:1 Perhaps a passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm, or a dirge
- Habakkuk 3:6 Or surveys
- Habakkuk 3:7 = Midian
- Habakkuk 3:9 Or set
- Habakkuk 3:9 Hb obscure
- Habakkuk 3:10 Lit hands
- Habakkuk 3:13 The Davidic king or the nation of Israel
- Habakkuk 3:13 Lit foundation
- Habakkuk 3:19 Lit on my
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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