Habakkuk 3
Living Bible
3 This is the prayer of triumph[a] that Habakkuk sang before the Lord:
2 O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe for the fearful things you are going to do. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. In your wrath, remember mercy.
3 I see God moving across the deserts from Mount Sinai.[b] His brilliant splendor fills the earth and sky; his glory fills the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise! What a wonderful God he is! 4 From his hands flash rays of brilliant light. He rejoices in his awesome power.[c] 5 Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. 6 He stops; he stands still for a moment, gazing at the earth. Then he shakes the nations, scattering the everlasting mountains and leveling the hills. His power is just the same as always! 7 I see the people of Cushan and of Midian in mortal fear.
8-9 Was it in anger, Lord, you smote the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! All saw your power! Then springs burst forth upon the earth at your command![d] 10 The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging water. The mighty deep cried out, announcing its surrender to the Lord.[e] 11 The lofty sun and moon began to fade, obscured by brilliance from your arrows and the flashing of your glittering spear.
12 You marched across the land in awesome anger and trampled down the nations in your wrath. 13 You went out to save your chosen people. You crushed the head of the wicked and laid bare his bones from head to toe. 14 You destroyed with their own weapons those who came out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be an easy prey.
15 Your horsemen marched across the sea; the mighty waters piled high. 16 I tremble when I hear all this; my lips quiver with fear. My legs give way beneath me, and I shake in terror. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon the people who invade us.
17 Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength; he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
(A note to the choir director: When singing this ode, the choir is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 3:1 of triumph, literally, “according to Shigionoth”—thought by some to mean a mournful dirge.
- Habakkuk 3:3 from Mount Sinai, literally, “from Teman . . . from Mount Paran.”
- Habakkuk 3:4 He rejoices in his awesome power, or “He veils his power.”
- Habakkuk 3:8 Literally, “Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? Were you angry with them? Was your wrath against their sin that you rode upon your horses? Your chariots were salvation. Your bow was pulled from its sheath and you put arrows to the string. You ribboned the earth with rivers.”
- Habakkuk 3:10 announcing its surrender to the Lord, literally, “and lifts high its hands.”
Habakkuk 3
Amplified Bible
God’s Salvation of His People
3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to [a]wild and enthusiastic music.
2
O Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear.
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath [earnestly] remember compassion and love.
3
God [approaching from Sinai] comes from Teman (Edom),
And the Holy One from [b]Mount Paran. Selah ([c]pause, and calmly think of that).
His splendor and majesty covers the heavens
And the earth is full of His praise.
4
His brightness is like the sunlight;
He has [bright] rays flashing from His hand,
And there [in the sunlike splendor] is the hiding place of His power.
5
Before Him goes the pestilence [of judgment as in Egypt],
And [the burning] plague [of condemnation] follows at His feet [as in Sennacherib’s army].(A)
6
He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations,
Yes, the eternal mountains were shattered,
The ancient hills bowed low and collapsed.
His ways are eternal.
7
I [Habakkuk, in my vision] saw the tents of Cushan under distress;
The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.
8
Did the Lord rage against the rivers,
Or was Your anger against the rivers,
Or was Your wrath against the [Red] Sea,
That You rode on Your horses,
On Your chariots of salvation?
9
Your bow was made bare;
The rods of chastisement were sworn. Selah (pause, calmly think of that).
You split the earth with rivers [bringing waters to dry places].(B)
10
The mountains saw You and [they] trembled and writhed [as if in pain];
The downpour of waters swept by [as a deluge].
The deep uttered its voice and raged,
It lifted its hands high.
11
The sun and moon stood in their places [as before Joshua];
They went away at the light of Your [swift] arrows,
At the radiance and gleam of Your glittering spear.(C)
12
In indignation You marched through the earth;
In anger You trampled and threshed the nations.
13
You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation and rescue of Your anointed [people Israel].
You struck the [d]head from the house of the wicked
To lay him open from the thigh to the neck. Selah (pause, and calmly think of that).
14
With the enemy’s own spears, You pierced
The head of his hordes.
They stormed out to scatter us,
Rejoicing like those
Who secretly devour the oppressed [of Israel].
15
You have trampled on the sea with Your horses,
On the surge of many waters.(D)
16
I heard and my whole inner self trembled;
My lips quivered at the sound.
Decay and rottenness enter my bones,
And I tremble in my place.
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade and attack us.
17
Though the fig tree does not blossom
And there is no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive fails
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
18
Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord;
I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!(E)
19
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet
And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [e]high places [of challenge and responsibility].
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
Footnotes
- Habakkuk 3:1 Lit Shigionoth. The musical heading suggests that this chapter should be sung.
- Habakkuk 3:3 Located in the Sinai peninsula.
- Habakkuk 3:3 The exact meaning of selah is unknown; many think it calls for a pause in music.
- Habakkuk 3:13 Perhaps a reference to Pharaoh.
- Habakkuk 3:19 The troubled times of life may actually be the “high places” of spiritual growth for the believer who remains stable when tested by God.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
