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1A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk according to Shigionoth.
The Prophet's Prayer
2O LORD, I have heard of your renown,
and I stand in awe, O LORD, of your work.
In our own time revive it;
in our own time make it known;
in wrath may you remember mercy.
3God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His glory covered the heavens,
and the earth was full of his praise.
4The brightness was like the sun;
rays came forth from his hand,
where his power lay hidden.
5Before him went pestilence,
and plague followed close behind.
6He stopped and shook the earth;
he looked and made the nations tremble.
The eternal mountains were shattered;
along his ancient pathways
the everlasting hills sank low.
7I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction;
the tent-curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
8Was your wrath against the rivers,3.8 Or against River O LORD?
Or your anger against the rivers,3.8 Or against River
or your rage against the sea,3.8 Or against Sea
when you drove your horses,
your chariots to victory?
9You brandished your naked bow,
sated3.9 Cn: Heb oaths were the arrows at your command.3.9 Meaning of Heb uncertain Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw you, and writhed;
a torrent of water swept by;
the deep gave forth its voice.
The sun3.10 Heb It raised high its hands;
11the moon3.11 Heb sun, moon stood still in its exalted place,
at the light of your arrows speeding by,
at the gleam of your flashing spear.
12In fury you trod the earth,
in anger you trampled nations.
13You came forth to save your people,
to save your anointed.
You crushed the head of the wicked house,
laying it bare from foundation to roof.3.13 Meaning of Heb uncertain Selah
14You pierced with their3.14 Heb his own arrows the head3.14 Or leader of his warriors,3.14 Vg Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
who came like a whirlwind to scatter us,3.14 Heb me
gloating as if ready to devour the poor who were in hiding.
15You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning the mighty waters.
16I hear, and I tremble within;
my lips quiver at the sound.
Rottenness enters into my bones,
and my steps tremble3.16 Cn Compare Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain beneath me.
I wait quietly for the day of calamity
to come upon the people who attack us.
Trust and Joy in the Midst of Trouble
17Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
18yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
19GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights.3.19 Heb my heights
To the leader: with stringed3.19 Heb my stringed instruments.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.