Habakkuk 3
3
Habakkuk Prays to the Lord
1This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. It is on shigionoth. Here is what he said.
2 Lord, I know how famous you are.
I have great respect for you
because of your mighty acts.
Do them again for us.
Make them known in our time.
When you are angry,
please have mercy on us.
3God came from Teman.
The Holy One came from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens.
His praise filled the earth.
4His glory was like the sunrise.
Rays of light flashed from his mighty hand.
His power was hidden there.
5He sent plagues ahead of him.
Sickness followed behind him.
6When he stood up, the earth shook.
When he looked at the nations,
they trembled with fear.
The age-old mountains crumbled.
The ancient hills fell down.
But he marches on forever.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in trouble.
The people of Midian were suffering greatly.
8 Lord, were you angry with the rivers?
Were you angry with the streams?
Were you angry with the Red Sea?
You rode your horses and chariots
to overcome it.
9You got your bow ready to use.
You asked for many arrows.
You broke up the surface
of the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw you and shook.
Floods of water swept by.
The sea roared.
It lifted its waves high.
11The sun and moon stood still in the sky.
They stopped because your flying arrows flashed by.
Your gleaming spear shone like lightning.
12When you were angry, you marched across the earth.
Because of your anger you destroyed the nations.
13You came out to set your people free.
You saved your chosen ones.
You crushed Pharaoh, the leader of that evil land of Egypt.
You stripped him from head to foot.
14His soldiers rushed out to scatter us.
They were laughing at us.
They thought they would easily destroy us.
They saw us as weak people who were trying to hide.
So you wounded Pharaoh’s head with his own spear.
15Your horses charged into the Red Sea.
They stirred up the great waters.
16I listened and my heart pounded.
My lips trembled at the sound.
My bones seemed to rot.
And my legs shook.
But I will be patient.
I’ll wait for the day of trouble to come on Babylon.
It’s the nation that is attacking us.
17The fig trees might not bud.
The vines might not produce any grapes.
The olive crop might fail.
The fields might not produce any food.
There might not be any sheep in the pens.
There might not be any cattle in the barns.
18But I will still be glad
because of what the Lord has done.
God my Savior fills me with joy.
19The Lord and King gives me strength.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
He helps me walk on the highest places.
This prayer is for the director of music. It should be sung while being accompanied by stringed instruments.
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Habakkuk 3: NIrV
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Habakkuk 3
3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk#3:1 Hebrew adds according to shigionoth, probably indicating the musical setting for the prayer.:
2I 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.
3I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,#3:3a Hebrew Teman.
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.#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.
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
4His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
5Pestilence marches before him;
plague follows close behind.
6When 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!#3:6 Or The ancient paths belong to him.
7I see the people of Cushan in distress,
and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
8Was 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!
9You brandished your bow
and your quiver of arrows.
You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
10The mountains watched and trembled.
Onward swept the raging waters.
The mighty deep cried out,
lifting its hands in submission.
11The sun and moon stood still in the sky
as your brilliant arrows flew
and your glittering spear flashed.
12You marched across the land in anger
and trampled the nations in your fury.
13You 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.
14With his own weapons,
you destroyed the chief of those
who rushed out like a whirlwind,
thinking Israel would be easy prey.
15You trampled the sea with your horses,
and the mighty waters piled high.
16I trembled inside when I heard this;
my lips quivered with fear.
My legs gave way beneath me,#3:16 Hebrew Decay entered my bones.
and I shook in terror.
I will wait quietly for the coming day
when disaster will strike the people who invade us.
17Even 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,
18yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,#3:19 Or He gives me the speed of a deer.
able to tread upon the heights.
(For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
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