| 1 | A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild, enthusiastic,
and
triumphal music. |
| 2 | O Lord, I have heard the report of You and was afraid. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make [Yourself] known! In wrath [earnestly] remember love, pity,
and
mercy. |
| 3 | God [approaching from Sinai] came from Teman [which represents Edom] and the Holy One from Mount Paran [in the Sinai region].
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]! His glory covered the heavens and the earth was full of His praise. |
| 4 | And His brightness was like the sunlight; rays streamed from His hand, and there [in the sunlike splendor] was the hiding place of His power. |
| 5 | Before Him went the pestilence [as in Egypt], and burning plague followed His feet [as in Sennacherib’s army]. |
| 6 | He stood and measured the earth; He looked and shook the nations, and the eternal mountains were scattered and the perpetual hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting
and
His goings are of old. |
| 7 | I [Habakkuk, in vision] saw the tents of Cushan [probably Ethiopia] in affliction; the [tent] curtains of the land of Midian trembled. |
| 8 | Were You displeased with the rivers, O Lord? Or was Your anger against the rivers [You divided]? Was Your wrath against the [Red] Sea, that You rode [before] upon Your horses and Your chariots of victory
and
deliverance? |
| 9 | Your bow was made quite bare; sworn to the tribes [of Israel] by Your sure word were the rods of chastisement, scourges,
and
calamities.
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]! With rivers You cleaved the earth [bringing forth waters in dry places]. |
| 10 | The mountains saw You; they trembled
and
writhed [as if in pain]. The overflowing of the water passed by [as at the deluge]; the deep uttered its voice and lifted its hands on high. |
| 11 | The sun and moon stood back [as before Joshua] in their habitation at the light of Your arrows as they sped, at the flash of Your glittering spear. |
| 12 | You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled
and
threshed the nations in anger. |
| 13 | You went forth
and
have come for the salvation of Your people, for the deliverance
and
victory of Your anointed [people Israel]; You smote the head of the house of the wicked, laying bare the foundation even to the neck.
Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]! |
| 14 | You pierced with his own arrows the head of [the enemy’s] hordes; they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me [the people], rejoicing as if to devour the poor [Israel] secretly. |
| 15 | You have trodden the sea with Your horses, [beside] the heap of great
and
surging waters. |
| 16 | I heard and my [whole inner self] trembled; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness enters into my bones and under me [down to my feet]; I tremble. I will wait quietly for the day of trouble and distress when there shall come up against [my] people him who is about to invade
and
oppress them. |
| 17 | Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, |
| 18 | Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! |
| 19 | The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery,
and
my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk]
and
make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! |
For the Chief Musician; with my stringed instruments.
Cross references:
-
Habakkuk 3:5 : Exod. 7:2-4; II Kings 19:32-35.
-
Habakkuk 3:9 : Exod. 17:6; Num. 20:11.
-
Habakkuk 3:11 : Josh. 10:12, 13.
-
Habakkuk 3:15 : Exod. 15:8.
-
Habakkuk 3:18 : Rom. 8:37.