Habakkuk 3
3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.#3:1 The Hebrew text adds “according to shigyonoth,” which may be an instruction for a special style of music.
2Lord, I have heard the news about you.
I am amazed, Lord, at the powerful things you did in the past.
Now I pray that you will do great things in our time.
Please make these things happen in our own days.
But in your anger,
remember to show mercy to us. Selah
3God is coming from Teman.
The Holy One is coming from Mount Paran. Selah
His glory covers the heavens,
and his praise fills the earth!
4Rays of light shine from his hand, a bright, shining light.
There is such power hiding in that hand.
5The sickness went before him,
and the destroyer followed behind him.#3:5 This probably refers to the diseases and the angel of death that God sent against the Egyptians when God freed Israel from slavery.
6He stood and judged the earth.
He looked at the people of all the nations,
and they shook with fear.
For many years the mountains stood strong,
but those mountains fell to pieces.
Those old, old hills fell down.
God has always been able to do that.
7I saw that the cities of Cushan were in trouble
and that the houses of Midian trembled with fear.
8Lord, were you angry at the rivers?
Were you angry at the streams?
Were you angry at the sea?
Were you angry when you rode your horses and chariots to victory?
9Even then you showed your rainbow.
It was proof of your agreement with the families of the earth.#3:9 rainbow … earth See Gen. 9. Selah
And the dry land split the rivers.
10The mountains saw you and shook.
The water flowed off the land.
The water from the sea made a loud noise
as it lost its power over the land.
11The sun and the moon lost their brightness.
They stopped shining when they saw your bright flashes of lightning.
That lightning was like spears and arrows shooting through the air.
12In anger you walked on the earth
and punished the nations.
13You came to save your people
and to lead your chosen king#3:13 chosen king Literally, “anointed one.” to victory.
You killed the leader in every evil family,
from the least important person
to the most important in the land.#3:13 You killed … in the land Literally, “You struck the head from the wicked house. From the foundation to the neck they were laid bare.” Selah
14You used Moses’ walking stick
to stop the enemy soldiers.
Those soldiers came
like a powerful storm to fight against us.
They thought they could defeat us easily,
as robbing the poor in secret.
15But you marched your horses
through the deep water, stirring up the mud.
16My whole body shook when I heard the story.
My lips trembled.
I felt weak deep down in my bones
and stood there shaking.
But I will wait patiently for destruction to come to those who attack us.
Always Rejoice in the Lord
17Figs might not grow on the fig trees,
and grapes might not grow on the vines.
Olives might not grow on the olive trees,
and food might not grow in the fields.
There might not be any sheep in the pens
or cattle in the barns.
18But I will still be glad in the Lord
and rejoice in God my Savior.
19The Lord GOD gives me my strength.
He helps me run fast like a deer.
He leads me safely on the mountains.
To the music director. On my stringed instruments.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Habakkuk 3
3
A Prayer of Habakkuk
1This is a prayer of the prophet Habakkuk:#3.1 Hebrew has an additional phrase, the meaning of which is unclear.
2O LORD, I have heard of what you have done,
and I am filled with awe.
Now do again in our times
the great deeds you used to do.
Be merciful, even when you are angry.
3God is coming again from Edom;
the holy God is coming from the hills of Paran.
His splendour covers the heavens;
and the earth is full of his praise.
4He comes with the brightness of lightning;
light flashes from his hand,
there where his power is hidden.
5He sends disease before him
and commands death to follow him.
6When he stops, the earth shakes;
at his glance the nations tremble.
The eternal mountains are shattered;
the everlasting hills sink down,
the hills where he walked in ancient times.
7I saw the people of Cushan afraid
and the people of Midian tremble.
8Was it the rivers that made you angry, LORD?
Was it the sea that made you furious?
You rode upon the clouds;
the storm cloud was your chariot,
as you brought victory to your people.
9You got ready to use your bow,
ready to shoot your arrows.#3.9 Probable text ready to shoot your arrows; Hebrew unclear.
Your lightning split open the earth.
10When the mountains saw you, they trembled;
water poured down from the skies.
The waters under the earth roared,
and their waves rose high.
11At the flash of your speeding arrows
and the gleam of your shining spear,
the sun and the moon stood still.
12You marched across the earth in anger;
in fury you trampled the nations.
13You went out to save your people,
to save your chosen king.
You struck down the leader of the wicked
and completely destroyed his followers.#3.13 Probable text completely… followers; Hebrew unclear.
14Your arrows pierced the commander of his army
when it came like a storm to scatter us,
gloating like those who secretly oppress the poor.#3.14 Verse 14 in Hebrew is unclear.
15You trampled the sea with your horses,
and the mighty waters foamed.
16I hear all this, and I tremble;
my lips quiver with fear.
My body goes limp,
and my feet stumble#3.16 Probable text my feet stumble; Hebrew I am excited, because. beneath me.
I will quietly wait for the time to come
when God will punish those who attack us.
17Even though the fig trees have no fruit
and no grapes grow on the vines,
even though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no corn,
even though the sheep all die
and the cattle stalls are empty,
18I will still be joyful and glad,
because the LORD God is my saviour.
19 #
2 Sam 22.34; Ps 18.33 The Sovereign LORD gives me strength.
He makes me sure-footed as a deer,
and keeps me safe on the mountains.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.