Habakkuk’s Prayer 1 UST Habakkuk the prophet prayed this prayer, set to the tune called Shigyonoth. BSB BSB: This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:
2 UST Yahweh, I have heard reports about what you have done, and I am in awe of all you have done. Do again in our time what 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 UST He shone like the sunrise; his rays of light flashed from his hands, and that is where he conceals his awesome power. BSB BSB: His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden.
5 UST Sickness went ahead of him like a soldier, and burning disease followed behind him. BSB BSB: Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps.
6 UST He stopped and surveyed the earth. He looked at the nations and made them tremble. The mountains that have existed from the beginning of time collapsed; the ancient hills crumbled. He has always existed and always will. 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 UST I saw that the people in the tents of Cushan were distressed, and the people of Midian were trembling like tent curtains. BSB BSB: I saw the tents of Cushan in distress; the curtains of Midian were trembling.
8 UST Yahweh, were you angry at the rivers and streams? Were you furious at the sea? No! You rode on your horses and on your chariots to defeat your enemies and rescue your people. 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 UST You took your bow out of its cover, ready to shoot. You made ready your arrows, just as you had promised. You split the ground, and water gushed out in rivers. BSB BSB: You brandished Your bow; You called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers.
10 UST The mountains trembled when they saw you. A great flood of water rushed past. The ocean depths roared loudly and seemed to raise their hands high in the air. 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 UST The sun and the moon stopped moving as your arrows flew through the sky like flashes of light and your shining spear gleamed brightly. 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 UST You marched across the land in your anger, and you trampled the nations in your fury. BSB BSB: You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath.
13 UST You went out to rescue your people, to save the king you had chosen. You crushed the ruler of the wicked people, destroying his power from his crown to his very foundation. 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 UST With the enemy’s own spear you killed their leader, who had come rushing like a whirlwind to scatter us and gloated like they were about to devour helpless people in hiding. 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 UST You smashed through the sea on your horses, churning through the great surging waves. BSB BSB: You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.
16 UST When I heard this, my stomach churned inside me; at the sound of it, my lips trembled. My bones felt like they were rotting, and my legs gave way beneath me. However, I will wait quietly for the time when disaster comes to the people who are attacking us. 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 UST The fig trees may not blossom, and there may be no grapes on the vines. The olive trees may produce nothing, and the fields may yield no crops. The flocks of sheep and goats may disappear from the pastures, and there may be no cattle in the stalls. 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 UST Even so, I will rejoice because I know Yahweh. I will be joyful because Yahweh is the God who saves me. BSB BSB: yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
19 UST Yahweh the Lord makes me strong. He makes me as sure-footed as a deer and enables me to go safely to the high places.(This is for the choir director to use when the people sing this prayer with 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.