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Habakkuk’s Prayer

This is the prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on shigionoth [C probably a literary or musical term].

Lord, I have heard the ·news [report] about you;
    I am ·amazed [in awe; afraid] at what you have done.
Lord, do great things once again in ·our time [L the midst of the years];
    make ·those things happen again [L them known] in ·our own days [L the midst of the years].
Even when you are angry,
    remember to be ·kind [compassionate].
God is coming from Teman [C near Edom, south of Israel];
    the Holy One comes from Mount Paran [C on the Sinai peninsula south of Israel; the language recalls God’s revelation at Mount Sinai; Deut. 33:2]. Selah

His glory covers the ·skies [heavens],
    and his praise fills the earth.
He is like ·a bright light [flashing lightning; or brightness at dawn].
    Rays of light ·shine [flash] from his hand,
    and there he hides his power.
·Sickness [Plague] goes before him,
    and ·disease [pestilence] follows ·behind him [L at his feet].
He stands and ·shakes [or measures] the earth.
    He looks, and the nations ·shake [or jump] with fear.
The ·mountains, which stood for ages, [eternal mountains] ·break into pieces [crumble];
    the ·old [age-old; everlasting] hills ·fall [sink] down.
·God has always done this [Ancient paths/ways are his].

I saw that the tents of Cushan [C located in southern Transjordan] were in ·trouble [distress]
    and that the ·tents [curtains] of the land of Midian trembled [Ex. 15:14–16; Josh. 2:9–10].
Lord, were you angry at the rivers,
    or ·were you angry at [was your wrath against] the streams?
Were you ·angry [enraged] with the sea
    when you rode your horses and chariots of victory?
You ·uncovered [pulled out; brandished] your bow
    and commanded many arrows to be brought to you. Selah

You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you and ·shook with fear [writhed; trembled].
The ·rushing [raging; torrents of] water ·flowed [swept by].
    The ·sea [deep] ·made a loud noise [shouted; roared],
    and ·its waves rose high [L lifted its hands high].
11 The sun and moon stood still in ·the sky [L lofty dwelling place];
    they stopped when they saw the flash of your flying arrows
    and the ·gleam [glint] of your ·shining [flashing] spear.
12 In ·anger [indignation] you marched on the earth;
    in anger you ·punished [trampled; threshed] the nations.
13 You came out to ·save [rescue] your people,
    to save your ·chosen one [anointed].
You crushed the ·leader [head] of the ·wicked ones [L house of the wicked]
    and ·took everything he had [lay him bare], from ·head to toe [L foundation to neck]. Selah

14 With the enemy’s own ·spear [or arrows] you ·stabbed the leader of his army [L pierced his head; or pierced the heads of his soldiers/warriors].
    His ·soldiers [warriors] rushed out like a storm to scatter us.
·They were happy [Rejoicing; Shouting with joy]
    as they were ·robbing [plundering] the poor people in secret.
15 But you ·marched through [trampled on] the sea with your horses,
    stirring the great waters.

16 I hear these things, and my body trembles;
    my lips ·tremble [quiver] when I hear the sound.
My bones ·feel weak [L rot away],
    and my legs shake.

But I will wait patiently for the day of ·disaster [calamity]
    that will come to the people who ·attack [invade] us.
17 Fig trees may not ·grow figs [L blossom; bud],
    and there may be no grapes on the vines.
·There may be no olives growing [L The produce of the olive fails/disappoints]
    and no food growing in the fields.
There may be no sheep in the ·pens [fold]
    and no cattle in the ·barns [stalls].
18 But I will still ·be glad [rejoice] in the Lord;
    I will ·rejoice [be joyful] in God my Savior.
19 The Lord God is my strength.
    He makes ·me like a deer that does not stumble [L my feet like a deer’s]
    so I can walk on the ·steep mountains [heights].
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

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