1 ARST A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. BSB BSB: This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:
2 ARST Yahweh, I have heard about you; and I revere you because of all the amazing things that you have done. In our time, do again some of those things that you did long ago! Even when you are angry with us, act mercifully toward us! BSB BSB: O 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!
4 ARST His glory was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hands where he keeps his power. BSB BSB: His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
5 ARST He sent plagues in front of him, and other plagues came behind him. BSB BSB: Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.
6 ARST When he stopped, the earth shook. When he looked at the nations, all the people trembled. The hills and mountains that have existed since the beginning of time collapsed and crumbled. He is the only one who exists eternally! BSB BSB: He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.
7 ARST In the vision I saw the people who live in tents in the region of Cushan were very afraid, and the people in the region of Midian were trembling. BSB BSB: I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.
8 ARST Yahweh, was it because you were angry with the rivers and streams that you struck them? Did the seas cause you to be furious, with the result that you rode through them with horses that were pulling chariots that you used to bring victory to your cause? BSB BSB: Were 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?
9 ARST It was as though you uncovered your bow and prepared to shoot it, and had grasped arrows to put to your bow. Then you split open the earth, and streams burst out. BSB BSB: You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.
10 ARST It is as though the mountains saw you doing that, and they trembled in pain. The water rushed by in floods; it was as though the deep ocean roared and caused its waves to rise up high. BSB BSB: The mountains saw You and quaked; torrents of water swept by. The deep roared with its voice and lifted its hands on high.
11 ARST The sun and moon stopped moving in the sky, while your lightning flashed past like a swift arrow, and your glittering spear flashed. BSB BSB: Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.
12 ARST Being very angry, you walked across the earth and trampled the armies of many nations! BSB BSB: You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath.
13 ARST But you also went to rescue your people, and to save the one whom you have chosen. You struck down the leader of those wicked people and took away all his power completely. BSB BSB: You 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
14 ARST With his own spear you destroyed the leader of those soldiers who rushed like a whirlwind to attack and scatter us, thinking that they could conquer us as easily as they defeat the weak people who hide from them. BSB BSB: With his own spear You pierced his head, when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though ready to secretly devour the weak.
15 ARST You walked through the sea with your horses to destroy our enemies, and caused the waves to surge. BSB BSB: You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.
16 ARST When I saw that vision, my heart pounded and my lips quivered because I became afraid. My legs became weak and I shook, because I was terrified. But I will wait quietly for the people of Babylonia, those who invaded our country, to experience disasters! BSB BSB: I 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.
17 ARST Therefore, even if there are no blossoms on the fig trees, and there are no grapes on the grapevines, and even if there are no olives growing on the olive trees, and there are no crops in the fields, and even if the flocks of sheep and goats die in the fields, and there are no cattle in the stalls, this is what I will do. BSB BSB: Though 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,
18 ARST I will rejoice because of Yahweh! I will be joyful because my God is the one who saves me! BSB BSB: yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
19 ARST Yahweh the Lord is the one who gives me strength, and he enables me to climb safely like a deer does, he makes me walk on my high hills.(This message is for the choir director: When this prayer is sung, it is to be accompanied by people playing stringed instruments.) BSB BSB: GOD 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.