3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1 The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.* The Hebrew text adds “according to shigyonoth,” which may be an instruction for a special style of music.
2 LORD, 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
3 God is coming from Teman.
The Holy One is coming from Mount Paran.
Selah
His glory covers the heavens,
and his praise fills the earth!
4 Rays of light shine from his hand, a bright, shining light.
There is such power hiding in that hand.
5 The sickness went before him,
and the destroyer followed behind him.† This probably refers to the diseases and the angel of death that God sent against the Egyptians when God freed Israel from slavery.
6 He 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.
7 I saw that the cities of Cushan were in trouble
and that the houses of Midian trembled with fear.
8 LORD, 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?
9 Even then you showed your rainbow.
It was proof of your agreement with the families of the earth.‡ rainbow … earth See Genesis 9.
Selah
And the dry land split the rivers.
10 The 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.
11 The 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.
12 In anger you walked on the earth
and punished the nations.
13 You came to save your people
and to lead your chosen king§ 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.* 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
14 You 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.
15 But you marched your horses
through the deep water, stirring up the mud.
16 My 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
17 Figs 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.
18 But I will still be glad in the LORD
and rejoice in God my Savior.
19 The 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.
*3:1 The Hebrew text adds “according to shigyonoth,” which may be an instruction for a special style of music.
†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.
‡3:9 rainbow … earth See Genesis 9.
§3:13 chosen king Literally, “anointed one.”
*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.”