\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Habakkuk}

{\MT Habakkuk



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Habakkuk’s First Complaint
\par }
{\MM \VerseOne{1}This is the burden that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision:


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}How long, O LORD, must I call for help

\par }{\QB but You do not hear,

\par }{\Q or cry out to You, “Violence!”

\par }{\QB but You do not save?


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Why do You make me see iniquity?

\par }{\QB Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?

\par }{\Q Destruction and violence are before me.

\par }{\QB Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Therefore the law is paralyzed,

\par }{\QB and justice never goes forth.

\par }{\Q For the wicked hem in the righteous,

\par }{\QB so that justice is perverted.


\par }{\SH The LORD’s Answer
\par }
{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}“Look at the nations and observe—

\par }{\QB be utterly astounded!\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:5 }{\FT{LXX Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish!}}}

\par }{\Q For I am doing a work in your days

\par }{\QB that you would never believe

\par }{\QB even if someone told you.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:5 }{\FT{Cited in Acts 13:41}}}


\par }{\Q \VS{6}For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:6 }{\FT{That is, the Babylonians}}}—

\par }{\QB that ruthless and impetuous nation

\par }{\Q which marches through the breadth of the earth

\par }{\QB to seize dwellings not their own.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They are dreaded and feared;

\par }{\QB from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Their horses are swifter than leopards,

\par }{\QB fiercer than wolves of the night.

\par }{\Q Their horsemen charge ahead,

\par }{\QB and their cavalry comes from afar.

\par }{\Q They fly like a vulture,

\par }{\QB swooping down to devour.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}All of them come bent on violence;

\par }{\QB their hordes advance like the east wind;

\par }{\QB they gather prisoners like sand.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}They scoff at kings

\par }{\QB and make rulers an object of scorn.

\par }{\Q They laugh at every fortress

\par }{\QB and build up siege ramps to seize it.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Then they sweep by like the wind

\par }{\QB and pass on through.

\par }{\Q They are guilty;

\par }{\QB their own strength is their god.”


\par }{\SH Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
\par }
{\R (Psalms 11:1–7)

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}Are You not from everlasting,

\par }{\QB O LORD, my God, my Holy One?

\par }{\QB We will not die.

\par }{\Q O LORD, You have appointed them

\par }{\QB to execute judgment;

\par }{\Q O Rock, You have established them

\par }{\QB for correction.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil,

\par }{\QB and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

\par }{\Q So why do You tolerate the faithless?

\par }{\QB Why are You silent

\par }{\Q while the wicked swallow up

\par }{\QB those more righteous than themselves?


\par }{\Q \VS{14}You have made men like the fish of the sea,

\par }{\QB like creeping things that have no ruler.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}The foe pulls all of them up
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:15 }{\FT{Literally He pulls all of them up}}} with a hook;

\par }{\QB he catches them in his dragnet,

\par }{\Q and gathers them in his fishing net;

\par }{\QB so he rejoices gladly.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet

\par }{\QB and burns incense to his fishing net,

\par }{\Q for by these things his portion is sumptuous

\par }{\QB and his food is rich.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Will he, therefore, empty his net

\par }{\QB and continue to slay nations without mercy?




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH The LORD Answers Again
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}I will stand at my guard post

\par }{\QB and station myself on the ramparts.

\par }{\Q I will watch to see what He will say to me,

\par }{\QB and how I should answer when corrected.


\par }{\MM \VS{2}Then the LORD answered me:

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q “Write down this vision

\par }{\QB and clearly inscribe it on tablets,

\par }{\QB so that a herald may run with it.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}For the vision awaits an appointed time;

\par }{\QB it testifies of the end and does not lie.

\par }{\Q Though it lingers, wait for it,

\par }{\QB since it will surely come and will not delay.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:3 }{\FT{Or Though He lingers, wait for Him, since He will surely come and will not delay; see also LXX; cited in Hebrews 10:37.}}}


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:4 }{\FT{LXX If he should draw back, My soul has no pleasure in him}}}—

\par }{\QB but the righteous will live by faith
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:4 }{\FT{Or faithfulness; cited in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38}}}—


\par }{\Q \VS{5}and wealth
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:5 }{\FT{DSS; MT wine}}} indeed betrays him.

\par }{\QB He is an arrogant man never at rest.

\par }{\Q He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

\par }{\QB and like Death, he is never satisfied.

\par }{\Q He gathers all the nations to himself

\par }{\QB and collects all the peoples as his own.


\par }{\SH Woe to the Chaldeans
\par }
{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{6}Will not all of these take up a taunt against him,

\par }{\QB speaking with mockery and derision:

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his

\par }{\QB and makes himself rich with many loans!

\par }{\QB How long will this go on?’


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Will not your creditors suddenly arise

\par }{\QB and those who disturb you awaken?

\par }{\QB Then you will become their prey.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Because you have plundered many nations,

\par }{\QB the remnant of the people will plunder you—

\par }{\Q because of your bloodshed against man

\par }{\QB and your violence against the land, the city,

\par }{\QB and all their dwellers.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}Woe to him who builds his house

\par }{\QB by unjust gain,

\par }{\Q to place his nest on high

\par }{\QB and escape the hand of disaster!


\par }{\Q \VS{10}You have plotted shame for your house

\par }{\QB by cutting off many peoples

\par }{\QB and forfeiting your life.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:10 }{\FT{Literally sinning against your soul}}}


\par }{\Q \VS{11}For the stones will cry out from the wall,

\par }{\QB and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

\par }{\QB and establishes a town by iniquity!


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts

\par }{\QB that the labor of the people only feeds the fire,

\par }{\QB and the nations weary themselves in vain?


\par }{\Q \VS{14}For the earth will be filled

\par }{\QB with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD

\par }{\QB as the waters cover the sea.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,

\par }{\QB pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk,

\par }{\QB in order to gaze at their nakedness!


\par }{\Q \VS{16}You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

\par }{\QB You too must drink

\par }{\QB and expose your uncircumcision!\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:16 }{\FT{DSS, LXX, and Syriac and stagger}}}

\par }{\Q The cup in the LORD’s right hand

\par }{\QB will come around to you,

\par }{\QB and utter disgrace will cover your glory.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you,

\par }{\QB and the destruction of animals will terrify you,

\par }{\Q because of your bloodshed against men

\par }{\QB and your violence against the land, the city,

\par }{\QB and all their dwellers.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}What use is an idol,

\par }{\QB that a craftsman should carve it—

\par }{\Q or an image,

\par }{\QB a teacher of lies?

\par }{\Q For its maker trusts in his own creation;

\par }{\QB he makes idols that cannot speak.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’

\par }{\QB or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’

\par }{\QB Can it give guidance?

\par }{\Q Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

\par }{\QB yet there is no breath in it at all.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}But the LORD is in His holy temple;

\par }{\QB let all the earth be silent before Him.




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Habakkuk’s Prayer
\par }
{\MM \VerseOne{1}This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:1 }{\FT{Shigionoth is probably a musical term indicating the setting for the prayer.}}}


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}O LORD, I have heard the report of You;

\par }{\QB I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds.

\par }{\Q Revive them in these years;

\par }{\QB make them known in these years.

\par }{\QB In Your wrath, remember mercy!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}God came from Teman,

\par }{\QB and the Holy One from Mount Paran.

\par }{\QR Selah
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:3 }{\FT{Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; also in verses 9 and 13.}}}

\par }{\Q His glory covered the heavens,

\par }{\QB and His praise filled the earth.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}His radiance was like the sunlight;

\par }{\QB rays flashed from His hand,

\par }{\QB where His power is hidden.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Plague went before Him,

\par }{\QB and fever followed in His steps.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}He stood and measured the earth;

\par }{\QB He looked and startled the nations;

\par }{\Q the ancient mountains crumbled;

\par }{\QB the perpetual hills collapsed.

\par }{\QB His ways are everlasting.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}I saw the tents of Cushan in distress;

\par }{\QB the curtains of Midian were trembling.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD?

\par }{\QB Was Your wrath against the streams?

\par }{\Q Did You rage against the sea

\par }{\QB when You rode on Your horses,

\par }{\QB on Your chariots of salvation?


\par }{\Q \VS{9}You brandished Your bow;

\par }{\QB You called for many arrows.

\par }{\QR Selah

\par }{\QB You split the earth with rivers.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}The mountains saw You and quaked;

\par }{\QB torrents of water swept by.

\par }{\Q The deep roared with its voice

\par }{\QB and lifted its hands on high.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Sun and moon stood still

\par }{\QB in their places

\par }{\Q at the flash of Your flying arrows,

\par }{\QB at the brightness of Your shining spear.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}You marched across the earth with fury;

\par }{\QB You threshed the nations in wrath.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}You went forth for the salvation of Your people,

\par }{\QB to save Your anointed.

\par }{\Q You crushed the head of the house of the wicked

\par }{\QB and stripped him from head to toe.


\par }{\QR Selah

\par }{\Q \VS{14}With his own spear You pierced his head,

\par }{\QB when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,

\par }{\Q gloating as though ready

\par }{\QB to secretly devour the weak.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}You trampled the sea with Your horses,

\par }{\QB churning the great waters.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}I heard and trembled within;

\par }{\QB my lips quivered at the sound.

\par }{\Q Decay entered my bones;

\par }{\QB I trembled where I stood.

\par }{\Q Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress

\par }{\QB to come upon the people who invade us.


\par }{\SH Habakkuk Rejoices
\par }
{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}Though the fig tree does not bud

\par }{\QB and no fruit is on the vines,

\par }{\Q though the olive crop fails

\par }{\QB and the fields produce no food,

\par }{\Q though the sheep are cut off from the fold

\par }{\QB and no cattle are in the stalls,


\par }{\Q \VS{18}yet I will exult in the LORD;

\par }{\QB I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!


\par }{\Q \VS{19}GOD the Lord is my strength;

\par }{\QB He makes my feet like those of a deer;

\par }{\QB He makes me walk upon the heights!

\par }{\PC {\IT{For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.
}}

\par }