Habakkuk’s Prayer

1This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:a

2O 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!

3God came from Teman,

and the Holy One from Mount Paran.

Selahb

His glory covered the heavens,

and His praise filled the earth.

4His radiance was like the sunlight;

rays flashed from His hand,

where His power is hidden.

5Plague went before Him,

and fever followed in His steps.

6He stood and measured the earth;

He looked and startled the nations;

the ancient mountains crumbled;

the perpetual hills collapsed.

His ways are everlasting.

7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress;

the curtains of Midian were trembling.

8Were 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?

9You brandished Your bow;

You called for many arrows.

Selah

You split the earth with rivers.

10The mountains saw You and quaked;

torrents of water swept by.

The deep roared with its voice

and lifted its hands on high.

11Sun and moon stood still

in their places

at the flash of Your flying arrows,

at the brightness of Your shining spear.

12You marched across the earth with fury;

You threshed the nations in wrath.

13You 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.

Selah

14With his own spear You pierced his head,

when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,

gloating as though ready

to secretly devour the weak.

15You trampled the sea with Your horses,

churning the great waters.

16I 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

17Though 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,

18yet I will exult in the LORD;

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

19GOD 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.