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The Prophet Habakkuk

Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

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- Chapter 3 -

1
This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:(a)
2
O LORD, I have heard the report of You; I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds. Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy!
3
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah (b) His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth.
4
His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
5
Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.
6
He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.
7
I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.
8
Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD? Was Your wrath against the streams? Did You rage against the sea when You rode on Your horses, on Your chariots of salvation?
9
You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.
10
The mountains saw You and quaked; torrents of water swept by. The deep roared with its voice and lifted its hands on high.
11
Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.
12
You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath.
13
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked and stripped him from head to toe.
14
Selah With his own spear You pierced his head, when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though ready to secretly devour the weak.
15
You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.
16
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

Habakkuk Rejoices

17
Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls,
18
yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
19
GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.

Footnotes

(a)3:1 Shigionoth is probably a musical term indicating the setting for the prayer.
(b)3:3 Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; also in verses 9 and 13.
1
A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
2
LORD, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Renew your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.
3
God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth.
4
His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
5
Plague went before him, and pestilence followed his feet.
6
He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
7
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. The dwellings of the land of Midian trembled.
8
Was the LORD displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?
9
You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.
10
The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high.
11
The sun and moon stood still in the sky at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear.
12
You marched through the land in wrath. You threshed the nations in anger.
13
You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the land of wickedness. You stripped them head to foot. Selah.
14
You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
15
You trampled the sea with your horses, churning mighty waters.
16
I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.

Habakkuk Rejoices

17
For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,
18
yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19
GOD, the Lord,(a) is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.

Footnotes

(a)3:19 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”