Ambacum 3

1 A PRAYER OF THE PROPHET AMBACUM, WITH A SONG.

This is a prayer sung by the prophet Habakkuk. On Shigonoth.

2 O Lord, I have heard your report, and was afraid: I considered your works, and was amazed: you shall be known between the two living creatures, you shall be acknowledged when the years draw near; you shall be manifested when the time is come; when my soul is troubled, you will in wrath remember mercy.

I have heard what is said about you, Lord. I stand in awe of your work. Lord, revive it in our times; make it known in our times. In your anger, please remember your mercy.

3 God shall come from Thaeman, and the Holy One from the dark shady mount Pharan. (Pause)

God came from Teman; the Holy One from Mount Paran. (Selah) His glory covered the heavens; the earth was full of his praise.

4 His excellence covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness shall be as light; [there were] horns in his hands, and he caused a mighty love of his strength.

His brightness is like lightning; rays flash from his hand from where his power is hidden.

5 Before his face shall go a report, and it shall go forth into the plains,

Plague goes before him, disease follows at his feet.

6 the earth stood at his feet and trembled: he saw, and the nations melted away: the mountains were violently burst through, the everlasting hills melted at his everlasting going forth.

Where he stands, the earth shakes. When he looks the nations tremble. The ancient mountains shatter, the age-old hills collapse, but his ways are eternal.

7 Because of troubles I looked upon the tents of the Ethiopians: the tabernacles also of the land of Madiam shall be dismayed.

I saw the tents of Cushan suffering, the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.

8 Was you angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or [was] your wrath against the rivers, or your anger against the sea? for you will mount on your horses, and your chariots are salvation.

Did you burn with rage against the rivers, Lord? Were you angry with the rivers? Were you furious with the sea when you rode your horses and chariots of salvation?

9 Surely you did bend they bow at sceptres, says the Lord. (Pause) The land of rivers shall be torn asunder.

You took out your bow; you filled your quiver with arrows. (Selah) You split the earth open with rivers.

10 The nations shall see you and be in pain, [as you do] divide the moving waters: the deep uttered her voice, and raised her form on high.

Mountains saw you and shook. Water poured down and swept by. The deep called out, lifting high its waves.

11 The sun was exalted, and the moon stood still in her course: your darts shall go forth at the light, at the brightness of the gleaming of your arms.

The sun and moon stood still in the sky as your sparkling arrows flew and your spears flashed bright.

12 You will bring low the land with threatening, and in wrath you will break down the nations.

Indignant, you marched across the earth, trampling the nations in your anger.

13 You went forth for the salvation of your people, to save your anointed: you shall bring death on the heads of transgressors; you has brought bands upon [their] neck. (Pause)

You came out to save your people, to save your chosen people. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, stripping him from thick to neck.

14 You did cut asunder the heads of princes with amazement, they shall tremble in it; they shall burst their bridles, [they shall be] as a poor man devouring in secret.

With his own arrows you pierced the heads of his warriors, those who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating like those who secretly abuse the poor.

15 And you do cause your horses to enter the sea, disturbing much water.

You trod upon the sea with your horses, churning up the mighty waters.

16 I watched, and my belly trembled at the sound of the prayer of my lips, and trembling entered into my bones, and my frame was troubled within me; I will rest in the day of affliction, from going up to the people of my sojourning.

I shook inside when I heard this; my lips quivered at the sound; my bones turned to jelly; I trembled where I stood. I wait quietly for the day of trouble that will come upon those who attacked us.

17 For [though] the fig tree shall bear no fruit, and there shall be no produce on the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall produce no food: the sheep have failed from the pasture, and there are no oxen at the cribs;

Even though there are no blossoms on the fig trees and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no harvest; even though there are no animals in the pen and no cattle in the stalls;

18 yet I will exult in the Lord, I will joy in God my Saviour.

still I will be happy in the Lord, joyful in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will perfectly strengthen my feet; he mounts me upon high places, that I may conquer by his song.

The Lord God is my strength. He makes me able to walk in the highest mountains, as sure-footed as a deer. (To the music director: with my stringed instruments.)