Habakkuk 3

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

My Lord, your words have reached me and filled me with fear. Please, Lord, renew your deeds in our time, reveal them throughout the years. Even in your anger, may your mercy remain.

God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

From the land of Teman, God arrived, and from Mount Paran, the Sacred One descended. Pause and reflect. His magnificence enveloped the skies, and the earth echoed with his endless praises.

And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

His radiance was like sunlight, with rays of power streaming from his hands, where his strength lay hidden.

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

A deadly plague preceded him, and fiery sparks danced beneath his feet.

He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.

He stood, surveying the world, his gaze alone causing nations to tremble. Even the eternal mountains crumbled, and the ageless hills bowed in respect. His ways are unchanging and eternal.

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

I witnessed the suffering of Cushan's dwellings, and the very fabric of Midian's land shivered in fear.

Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?

Was God upset with the rivers? Was He angry with the sea? Was it His fury that made Him ride His horses and chariots of rescue?

Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

Your bow was fully exposed, in line with the promises made by the tribes, your word was the law. Pause and reflect. You split the earth with mighty rivers.

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.

When the mountains witnessed your presence, they shook in awe. The floodwaters receded in your path. The depths of the sea roared, reaching out towards the heavens.

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

The sun and moon paused in their paths, moved by the brilliance of your arrows and the sparkle of your spear.

Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

You walked through the land with fury, trampling the nations in your wrath.

Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

You bravely ventured out to save your people, your chosen ones. You struck down the leader of the wicked, exposing their deceit right down to the core. Pause and reflect.

Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.

With their own spears you pierced the heads of their warriors. They stormed out like a tornado to disperse me, their joy was like secretly preying on the vulnerable.

Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

You bravely journeyed across the ocean with your horses, navigating through the vast, powerful waves.

When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

Upon hearing it, my stomach churned with fear; my lips shook at the sound. A feeling of decay seeped into my very bones, and I shivered within, longing for peace in the face of adversity. When he approaches the people, he will overwhelm them with his forces.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Even if the fig tree doesn't bloom, and the vines bear no fruit; even if the olive trees fail to produce, and the fields offer no harvest; even if the sheep vanish from the pen, and there are no cattle in the barns.

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Even in tough times, I'll find happiness in God, my savior, filling my heart with joy.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

God is my power, making me as agile as a deer, guiding me to walk on the heights. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.