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A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.

Yahweh, I have heard of your fame.
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh.
Renew your work in the middle of the years.
    In the middle of the years make it known.
    In wrath, you remember mercy.
God came from Teman,
    the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.

His glory covered the heavens,
    and his praise filled the earth.
His splendor is like the sunrise.
    Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
Plague went before him,
    and pestilence followed his feet.
He stood, and shook the earth.
    He looked, and made the nations tremble.
    The ancient mountains were crumbled.
    The age-old hills collapsed.
    His ways are eternal.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction.
    The dwellings of the land of Midian trembled.
Was Yahweh displeased with the rivers?
    Was your anger against the rivers,
    or your wrath against the sea,
    that you rode on your horses,
    on your chariots of salvation?
You uncovered your bow.
    You called for your sworn arrows. Selah.
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you, and were afraid.
    The storm of waters passed by.
    The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in the sky,
    at the light of your arrows as they went,
    at the shining of your glittering spear.
12 You marched through the land in wrath.
    You threshed the nations in anger.
13 You went out for the salvation of your people,
    for the salvation of your anointed.
You crushed the head of the land of wickedness.
    You stripped them head to foot. Selah.

14 You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears.
    They came as a whirlwind to scatter me,
    gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
    churning mighty waters.
16 I heard, and my body trembled.
    My lips quivered at the voice.
Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place,
    because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble,
    for the coming up of the people who invade us.
17 For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish,
    nor fruit be in the vines;
    the labor of the olive fails,
    the fields yield no food;
    the flocks are cut off from the fold,
    and there is no herd in the stalls:
18 yet I will rejoice in Yahweh.
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 Yahweh, the Lord,[a] is my strength.
    He makes my feet like deer’s feet,
    and enables me to go in high places.

For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:19 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

The Lord’s victory

The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:

Lord, I have heard your reputation.
        I have seen your work.
Over time, revive it.
        Over time, make it known.
Though angry, remember compassion.
God comes from Teman
        and the holy one from the mountain of Paran. Selah
His majesty covers the heavens
        and his praise fills the earth.
His radiance is like the sunlight,
        with rays flashing from his hand.
        That is the hiding place of his power.
Pestilence walks in front of him.
        Plague marches at his feet.
He stops and measures the earth.
        He looks and sets out against the nations.
The everlasting mountains collapse;
        the eternal hills bow down;
        the eternal paths belong to him.
I saw the tents of Cushan under duress.
        The curtains of the land of Midian were quaking.

Was the Lord raging against the rivers?
        Or was your anger directed against the rivers?
        Or was your fury directed against the sea
            when you rode on your horses
            or rode your chariots to victory?
You raise up your empty bow,
        uttering curses for the arrows.[a] Selah
With rivers you split open the earth.
10         The mountains see you and writhe.
        A flood of water rushes through.
        The deep utters its voice;
            it raises its hands aloft.[b]
11         Sun and moon stand still high above.
        With the light, your arrows shoot,
            your spear at the flash of lightning.
12 In fury, you stride the earth;
        in anger you tread the nations.
13 You go out to save your people.
        For the salvation of your anointed
            you smashed the head of the house of wickedness,
            laying bare the foundation up to the neck. Selah
14 You pierce the head of his warrior with his own spear.
        His warriors are driven off,
            those who take delight in oppressing us,[c]
            those who take pleasure in secretly devouring the poor.
15 You make your horses tread on the sea;
        turbulent waters foam.

The prophet responds

16 I hear and my insides tremble.
        My lips quiver at the sound.
        Rottenness enters my bones.
I tremble while I stand,[d]
        while I wait for the day of distress to come against the people who attack us.
17 Though the fig tree doesn’t bloom,
            and there’s no produce on the vine;
        though the olive crop withers,
            and the fields don’t provide food;
        though the sheep are cut off from the pen,
            and there are no cattle in the stalls;
18 I will rejoice in the Lord.
        I will rejoice in the God of my deliverance.
19 The Lord God is my strength.
        He will set my feet like the deer.
        He will let me walk upon the heights.[e]

To the director, with stringed instruments

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Footnotes

  1. Habakkuk 3:9 Heb uncertain
  2. Habakkuk 3:10 Heb uncertain
  3. Habakkuk 3:14 Or me
  4. Habakkuk 3:16 Or I tremble beneath me.
  5. Habakkuk 3:19 Or my heights