Habakkuk’s Prayer 1 Brenton A Prayer of the Prophet Ambacum, with a Song. BSB BSB: This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:
2 Brenton O Lord, I have heard thy report, and was afraid: I considered thy works, and was amazed: thou shalt be known between the two living creatures, thou shalt be acknowledged when the years draw nigh; thou shalt be manifested when the time is come; when my soul is troubled, thou wilt in wrath remember mercy. 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 Brenton His excellence covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness shall be as light; there were horns in his hands, and he caused a mighty love of his strength. BSB BSB: His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
5 Brenton Before his face shall go a report, and it shall go forth into the plains, BSB BSB: Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.
6 Brenton the earth stood at his feet and trembled: he beheld, and the nations melted away: the mountains were violently burst through, the everlasting hills melted at his everlasting going forth. 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 Brenton Because of troubles I looked upon the tents of the Ethiopians: the tabernacles also of the land of Madiam shall be dismayed. BSB BSB: I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.
8 Brenton Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath against the rivers, or thine anger against the sea? for thou wilt mount on thine horses, and thy chariots are salvation. 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 Brenton Surely thou didst bend thy bow at sceptres, saith the Lord. Pause. The land of rivers shall be torn asunder. BSB BSB: You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.
10 Brenton The nations shall see thee and be in pain, as thou dost divide the moving waters: the deep uttered her voice, and raised her form on 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 Brenton The sun was exalted, and the moon stood still in her course: thy darts shall go forth at the light, at the brightness of the gleaming of thine arms. 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 Brenton Thou wilt bring low the land with threatening, and in wrath thou wilt break down the nations. BSB BSB: You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath.
13 Brenton Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, to save thine anointed: thou shalt bring death on the heads of transgressors; thou hast brought bands upon their neck. Pause. 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 Brenton Thou didst cut asunder the heads of princes with amazement, they shall tremble in it; they shall burst their bridles, they shall be as a poor man devouring in secret. 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 Brenton And thou dost cause thine horses to enter the sea, disturbing much water. BSB BSB: You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.
16 Brenton I watched, and my belly trembled at the sound of the prayer of my lips, and trembling entered into my bones, and my frame was troubled within me; I will rest in the day of affliction, from going up to the people of my sojourning. 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.
Habakkuk Rejoices 17 Brenton For though the fig-tree shall bear no fruit, and there shall be no produce on the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall produce no food: the sheep have failed from the pasture, and there are no oxen at the cribs; 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 Brenton yet I will exult in the Lord, I will joy in God my Saviour. BSB BSB: yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
19 Brenton The Lord God is my strength, and he will perfectly strengthen my feet; he mounts me upon high places, that I may conquer by his song. 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.