Habakkuk 3
1 This is a prayer sung by the prophet Habakkuk. On Shigonoth.
A Prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet on Behalf of Those Who Are Ignorant.
2 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.
Lord, I heard what has been said about you, and I was afraid. Lord, your work, in the midst of years, revive it. In the midst of years, you will make it known. When you have become angry, you will remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman; the Holy One from Mount Paran. (Selah) His glory covered the heavens; the earth was full of his praise.
God will come from the south, and the Holy One from mount Pharan. His glory has covered the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise.
4 His brightness is like lightning; rays flash from his hand from where his power is hidden.
His brightness shall be like the light; horns are in his hands. There, his strength has been hidden.
5 Plague goes before him, disease follows at his feet.
Death will go forth before his face. And the devil shall depart before his feet.
6 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.
He stood, and measured the earth. He looked, and dissolved the Gentiles. And the mountains of ages past have been shattered. The hills of the world became curved by the journeys of his eternity.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan suffering, the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity; the tent-skins of the land of Midian will be thrown into confusion.
8 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?
Could you have been angry with the rivers, Lord? Or was your fury within the rivers, or your indignation in the sea? He will ascend upon your horses, and your four-horse chariots are salvation.
9 You took out your bow; you filled your quiver with arrows. (Selah) You split the earth open with rivers.
Being stirred up, you will take up your bow, the oaths you have spoken to the tribes. You will split apart the Rivers of the earth.
10 Mountains saw you and shook. Water poured down and swept by. The deep called out, lifting high its waves.
They saw you, and the mountains grieved. The great body of waters crossed over. The abyss uttered its voice. The pinnacle lifted up its hands.
11 The sun and moon stood still in the sky as your sparkling arrows flew and your spears flashed bright.
The sun and the moon have stood firm in their dwelling place; with the light of your arrows, they shall go forth in the splendor of your flashing spear.
12 Indignant, you marched across the earth, trampling the nations in your anger.
With a roar, you will trample the earth. In your fury, you will cause the nations to be stupefied.
13 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.
You have gone forth for the salvation of your people, for salvation with your Christ. You struck the head of the house of the impious. You have laid bare his foundation all the way to the neck.
14 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.
You have cursed his scepters, the head of his warriors, those who approached like a whirlwind so as to scatter me. Their exultation was like one who devours the poor in secret.
15 You trod upon the sea with your horses, churning up the mighty waters.
You made a way in the sea for your horses, in the mud of great waters.
16 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.
I heard, and my stomach became troubled. My lips trembled at the voice. Let decay enter into my bones and gush forth from within me. Then I may rest in the day of tribulation, so that I may ascend to our people well-prepared.
17 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;
For the fig tree will not flower, and there will be no bud on the vines. The labor of the olive tree will be misleading, and the farmland will produce no food. The sheep will be cut off from the sheepfold, and there will be no herd at the manger.
18 still I will be happy in the Lord, joyful in the God of my salvation.
But I will rejoice in the Lord; and I will exult in God my Jesus.
19 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.)
The Lord God is my strength. And he will set my feet like those of the stag. And he, the victor, will lead me beyond my high places while singing psalms.
