Habakkuk 3
New Living Translation
Habakkuk’s Prayer
3 This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk[a]:
2 I have heard all about you, Lord.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy.
3 I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,[b]
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.[c]
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
4 His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
5 Pestilence marches before him;
plague follows close behind.
6 When he stops, the earth shakes.
When he looks, the nations tremble.
He shatters the everlasting mountains
and levels the eternal hills.
He is the Eternal One![d]
7 I see the people of Cushan in distress,
and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
8 Was it in anger, Lord, that you struck the rivers
and parted the sea?
Were you displeased with them?
No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
9 You brandished your bow
and your quiver of arrows.
You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
10 The mountains watched and trembled.
Onward swept the raging waters.
The mighty deep cried out,
lifting its hands in submission.
11 The sun and moon stood still in the sky
as your brilliant arrows flew
and your glittering spear flashed.
12 You marched across the land in anger
and trampled the nations in your fury.
13 You went out to rescue your chosen people,
to save your anointed ones.
You crushed the heads of the wicked
and stripped their bones from head to toe.
14 With his own weapons,
you destroyed the chief of those
who rushed out like a whirlwind,
thinking Israel would be easy prey.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
and the mighty waters piled high.
16 I trembled inside when I heard this;
my lips quivered with fear.
My legs gave way beneath me,[e]
and I shook in terror.
I will wait quietly for the coming day
when disaster will strike the people who invade us.
17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,[f]
able to tread upon the heights.
(For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Footnotes
- 3:1 Hebrew adds according to shigionoth, probably indicating the musical setting for the prayer.
- 3:3a Hebrew Teman.
- 3:3b Hebrew adds selah; also in 3:9, 13. The meaning of this Hebrew term is uncertain; it is probably a musical or literary term.
- 3:6 Or The ancient paths belong to him.
- 3:16 Hebrew Decay entered my bones.
- 3:19 Or He gives me the speed of a deer.
Habakkuk 3
Legacy Standard Bible
Yet I Will Exalt in Yahweh
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to [a]Shigionoth.
2 O Yahweh, I have (A)heard [b]the report about You, and [c]I (B)fear.
O Yahweh, (C)revive (D)Your work in the midst of the years;
In the midst of the years make it known;
In rage remember (E)compassion.
3 God comes from (F)Teman,
And the Holy One from Mount (G)Paran. Selah.
His (H)splendor covers the heavens,
And the (I)earth is full of His praise.
4 His (J)brightness is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,
And there is the hiding of His (K)strength.
5 Before Him goes (L)pestilence,
And (M)plague comes [d]after Him.
6 He stood and [e]measured out the earth;
He looked and (N)startled the nations.
So the perpetual mountains were shattered;
The ancient hills [f]collapsed.
His ways are (O)everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan under (P)wickedness;
The tent curtains of the land of (Q)Midian were trembling.
8 Did Yahweh’s fury burn against the (R)rivers,
Or was Your anger against the rivers,
Or was Your wrath against the (S)sea,
That You (T)rode on Your horses,
On Your (U)chariots of salvation?
9 Your (V)bow was made bare;
Rods were sworn unto battle by word. Selah.
You (W)split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and writhed;
The downpour of waters passed by.
The deep (X)gave forth its voice;
It lifted high its hands.
11 (Y)Sun and moon stood in their lofty places;
They went away at the (Z)light of Your arrows,
At the brightness of Your flashing spear.
12 In indignation You (AA)marched through the earth;
In anger You [g](AB)trampled the nations.
13 You went forth for the (AC)salvation of Your people,
For salvation with Your (AD)anointed.
You crushed the (AE)head of the house of the wicked
To lay him bare from [h]thigh to neck. Selah.
14 You pierced with his (AF)own sharpened rods
The head of his [i]throngs.
They (AG)stormed in to scatter [j]us;
Their exultation was like those
Who (AH)devour the afflicted in secret.
15 You (AI)tread on the sea with Your horses,
On the (AJ)surge of many waters.
16 I heard, and my [k]inward parts (AK)trembled;
At the sound my lips tingled.
Decay enters my (AL)bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must (AM)wait quietly for the day of distress,
[l]For the (AN)people to arise who will invade us.
17 Though the (AO)fig tree should not blossom
And there be no produce on the vines,
Though the yield of the (AP)olive should fail
And the fields yield no food,
Though the (AQ)flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be (AR)no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will (AS)exult in Yahweh;
I will (AT)rejoice in the (AU)God of my salvation.
19 Yahweh, the Lord, is my [m](AV)strength,
And (AW)He has set my feet like hinds’ feet
And makes me tread on my (AX)high places.
[n]For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 3:1 Possibly a wild, passionate, and animated song
- Habakkuk 3:2 Or Your report
- Habakkuk 3:2 Or I stand in awe of Your work, O Yahweh; In the midst of the years revive it,
- Habakkuk 3:5 Lit at His feet
- Habakkuk 3:6 Or shook
- Habakkuk 3:6 Or sank down; lit bowed
- Habakkuk 3:12 Or thresh
- Habakkuk 3:13 Lit foundation
- Habakkuk 3:14 Or warriors, villagers
- Habakkuk 3:14 Lit me
- Habakkuk 3:16 Lit belly
- Habakkuk 3:16 Or To come upon the people who will
- Habakkuk 3:19 Lit valor
- Habakkuk 3:19 Belonging to the choir director’s anthology
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