Habakkuk’s Third Prayer

1A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth.a a

2Lord, I have heard the report about you;

Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds.a

Revive your work in these years;

make it known in these years.

In your wrath remember mercy!b

3God comes from Teman,

the Holy One from Mount Paran.a

Selah

His splendor covers the heavens,

and the earth is full of his praise.b

4His brilliance is like light;

rays are flashing from his hand.

This is where his power is hidden.

5Plague goes before him,

and pestilence follows in his steps.

6He stands and shakesA the earth;a

he looks and startles the nations.

The age-old mountains break apart;

the ancient hills sink down.b

His pathways are ancient.c

7I see the tents of CushanA in distress;

the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.

8Are you angry at the rivers, Lord?

Is your wrath against the rivers?

Or is your fury against the sea

when you ride on your horses,

your victorious chariot?a

9You took the sheath from your bow;

the arrows are readyA to be used with an oath.B a

Selah

You split the earth with rivers.

10The mountains see you and shudder;a

a downpour of water sweeps by.

The deep roars with its voiceb

and lifts its wavesA high.

11Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,a

at the flash of your flying arrows,

at the brightness of your shining spear.

12You march across the earth with indignation;

you trample down the nations in wrath.a

13You come out to save your people,a

to save your anointed.A

You crush the leader of the house of the wicked

and strip him from footB to neck.

Selah

14You pierce his head

with his own spears;

his warriors storm out to scatter us,

gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.

15You tread the sea with your horses,

stirring up the vast water.a

Habakkuk’s Confidence in God Expressed

16I heard, and I trembled within;a

my lips quivered at the sound.

Rottenness entered my bones;

I trembled where I stood.

Now I must quietly wait for the day of distressb

to come against the people invading us.

17Though the fig tree does not bud

and there is no fruit on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though the flocks disappear from the pen

and there are no herds in the stalls,

18yet I will celebrate in the Lord;

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!a

19The Lord my Lord is my strength;a

he makes my feet like those of a deerb

and enables me to walk on mountain heights!c

For the choir director: onA stringed instruments.