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The Prayer of Habakkuk

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.
O Yahweh, I have heard the report of you;
    O Yahweh, I stand in awe of your works.
In the midst of the years, revive it!
    In the midst of the years, make it known!
    In wrath, may you remember to show compassion.
God came from Teman;
    the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covers the heavens,
    and his praise fills the earth.
And his brightness was like the light;
    flashing rays came from his hand for him;
    And there is the covering of his strength.
Before him went Disease,[a]
    and Pestilence[b] went out at his feet.
He stood and measured the earth;
    he looked and made the nations tremble.
Then the mountains of old were shattered;
    the hills of old collapsed.
    The ways of old belong to him.
Under affliction I saw the tents of Cushan;
    the tent curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
Was the anger of Yahweh against the rivers?
    Was your wrath against the rivers,
    or your fury against the sea,
when you mounted upon your horses,
    upon your victory chariot?
You laid bare the nakedness of your bow,
    swearing oaths with the arrows of your word.
    You split the earth with rivers.
10 When the mountains saw you they writhed;
    a torrent of waters swept by;
the deep gave its voice;
    it raised its hands on high.
11 Sun and moon stood still in their place;
    at the light of your arrows they moved about;
    at the gleam of the flashing of your spear.
12 In fury you marched through the earth;
    in anger you trampled the nations.
13 You went forth for the salvation of your people,
    for the salvation of your anointed.
You crushed the head of the house of wickedness,
    laying bare from the foundation to the top.[c]
14 You pierced the head of his warriors with his own arrows;
    they came like a whirlwind to scatter me,
    their exultation like one who devours the afflicted in ambush.
15 You trampled upon the sea with your horses,
    the churning of many waters.
16 I hear and my stomach shakes;
    my lips quiver at the sound;
infection enters my bones;
    that which is beneath me trembles;
I wait quietly for the day of trouble
    to come upon the people attacking us.
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom,
    nor there be fruit on the vines;
the yield of the olive tree fails,
    and the cultivated fields do not yield food;
the flock is cut off from the animal pen,
    and there is no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will rejoice in Yahweh;
    I will exult in the God of my salvation.
19 Yahweh, my Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer;
    he causes me to walk on my high places.
To the choirmaster with stringed instruments.

Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 3:5 The Hebrew term is also the name of a Canaanite deity
  2. Habakkuk 3:5 The Hebrew term is also the name of a Canaanite deity
  3. Habakkuk 3:13 Or “to the neck”

Habakkuk’s Third Prayer

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. According to Shigionoth.[a](A)

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!

God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.(B)Selah
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of His praise.(C)
His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
Plague goes before Him,
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.
I see the tents of Cushan[c] in distress;
the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
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?
You took the sheath from Your bow;
the arrows are ready[d] to be used with an oath.[e](D)Selah
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.Selah
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

  1. Habakkuk 3:1 Perhaps a passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm, or a dirge
  2. Habakkuk 3:6 Or surveys
  3. Habakkuk 3:7 = Midian
  4. Habakkuk 3:9 Or set
  5. Habakkuk 3:9 Hb obscure
  6. Habakkuk 3:10 Lit hands
  7. Habakkuk 3:13 The Davidic king or the nation of Israel
  8. Habakkuk 3:13 Lit foundation
  9. Habakkuk 3:19 Lit on my