\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Habakkuk}

{\MT Habakkuk



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Habakkuk Complains to the Lord
\par }
{\PP \VerseOne{1}The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:


\par }{\Q \VS{2}How long,
{\ND{Lord}}, must I cry for help?

\par }{\Q But you do not listen!

\par }{\Q I call out to you, “Violence!”

\par }{\Q But you do not intervene!


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Why do you force me to witness injustice?

\par }{\Q Why do you put up with wrongdoing?

\par }{\Q Destruction and violence confront me;

\par }{\Q conflict is present and one must endure strife.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}For this reason the law lacks power,

\par }{\Q and justice is never carried out.

\par }{\Q Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent.

\par }{\Q For this reason justice is perverted.


\par }{\SH The Lord Reveals Some Startling News
\par }
{\Q \VS{5}“Look at the nations and pay attention!

\par }{\Q You will be shocked and amazed!

\par }{\Q For I will do something in your lifetime

\par }{\Q that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians,

\par }{\Q that ruthless and greedy nation.

\par }{\Q They sweep across the surface of the earth,

\par }{\Q seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}They are frightening and terrifying;

\par }{\Q they decide for themselves what is right.


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

\par }{\Q and more alert than wolves in the desert.

\par }{\Q Their horses gallop,

\par }{\Q their horses come a great distance;

\par }{\Q like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}All of them intend to do violence;

\par }{\Q every face is determined.

\par }{\Q They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}They mock kings

\par }{\Q and laugh at rulers.

\par }{\Q They laugh at every fortified city;

\par }{\Q they build siege ramps and capture them.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}They sweep by like the wind and pass on.

\par }{\Q But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.”


\par }{\SH Habakkuk Voices Some Concerns
\par }
{\Q \VS{12}{\ND{Lord}}, you have been active from ancient times;

\par }{\Q my sovereign God, you are immortal.

\par }{\Q {\ND{Lord}}, you have made them your instrument of judgment.

\par }{\Q Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}You are too just to tolerate evil;

\par }{\Q you are unable to condone wrongdoing.

\par }{\Q So why do you put up with such treacherous people?

\par }{\Q Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?


\par }{\Q \VS{14}You made people like fish in the sea,

\par }{\Q like animals in the sea that have no ruler.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook;

\par }{\Q he hauls them in with his throw net.

\par }{\Q When he catches them in his dragnet,

\par }{\Q he is very happy.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net

\par }{\Q and burns incense to his dragnet;

\par }{\Q for because of them he has plenty of food,

\par }{\Q and more than enough to eat.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net?

\par }{\Q Will he always destroy nations and spare none?




\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}I will stand at my watch post;

\par }{\Q I will remain stationed on the city wall.

\par }{\Q I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me

\par }{\Q and can know how I should answer

\par }{\Q when he counters my argument.


\par }{\SH The Lord Assures Habakkuk
\par }
{\Q \VS{2}The
{\ND{Lord}} responded:

\par }{\Q “Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets,

\par }{\Q so the one who announces it may read it easily.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}For the message is a witness to what is decreed;

\par }{\Q it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.

\par }{\Q Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently;

\par }{\Q for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion,

\par }{\Q but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Indeed, wine will betray the proud, restless man!

\par }{\Q His appetite is as big as Sheol’s;

\par }{\Q like death, he is never satisfied.

\par }{\Q He gathers all the nations;

\par }{\Q he seizes all peoples.


\par }{\SH The Proud Babylonians are as Good as Dead
\par }
{\Q \VS{6}“But all these nations will someday taunt him

\par }{\Q and ridicule him with proverbial sayings:

\par }{\Q ‘The one who accumulates what does not belong to him is as good as dead

\par }{\Q (How long will this go on?) –

\par }{\Q he who gets rich by extortion!’


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Your creditors will suddenly attack;

\par }{\Q those who terrify you will spring into action,

\par }{\Q and they will rob you.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Because you robbed many countries,

\par }{\Q all who are left among the nations will rob you.

\par }{\Q You have shed human blood

\par }{\Q and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead.

\par }{\Q He does this so he can build his nest way up high

\par }{\Q and escape the clutches of disaster.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Your schemes will bring shame to your house.

\par }{\Q Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}For the stones in the walls will cry out,

\par }{\Q and the wooden rafters will answer back.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The one who builds a city by bloodshed is as good as dead –

\par }{\Q he who starts a town by unjust deeds.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Be sure of this! The
{\ND{Lord}} who commands armies has decreed:

\par }{\Q The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke;

\par }{\Q their exhausting work will be for nothing.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}For recognition of the
{\ND{Lord}}’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth

\par }{\Q just as the waters fill up the sea.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}“You who force your neighbor to drink wine are as good as dead –

\par }{\Q you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger,

\par }{\Q so you can look at their genitals.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty.

\par }{\Q Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin!

\par }{\Q The cup of wine in the
{\ND{Lord}}’s right hand is coming to you,

\par }{\Q and disgrace will replace your majestic glory!


\par }{\Q \VS{17}For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon;

\par }{\Q terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there.

\par }{\Q You have shed human blood

\par }{\Q and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it?

\par }{\Q What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles?

\par }{\Q Why would its creator place his trust in it

\par }{\Q and make such mute, worthless things?


\par }{\Q \VS{19}The one who says to wood, ‘Wake up!’ is as good as dead –

\par }{\Q he who says to speechless stone, ‘Awake!’

\par }{\Q Can it give reliable guidance?

\par }{\Q It is overlaid with gold and silver;

\par }{\Q it has no life’s breath inside it.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}But the
{\ND{Lord}} is in his majestic palace.

\par }{\Q The whole earth is speechless in his presence!”




\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet:


\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ND{Lord}}, I have heard the report of what you did;

\par }{\Q I am awed,
{\ND{Lord}}, by what you accomplished.

\par }{\Q In our time repeat those deeds;

\par }{\Q in our time reveal them again.

\par }{\Q But when you cause turmoil, remember to show us mercy!


\par }{\Q \VS{3}God comes from Teman,

\par }{\Q the sovereign one from Mount Paran.
{\IT{ Selah}}.

\par }{\Q His splendor covers the skies,

\par }{\Q his glory fills the earth.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}He is as bright as lightning;

\par }{\Q a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand.

\par }{\Q This is the outward display of his power.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Plague goes before him;

\par }{\Q pestilence marches right behind him.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}He takes his battle position and shakes the earth;

\par }{\Q with a mere look he frightens the nations.

\par }{\Q The ancient mountains disintegrate;

\par }{\Q the primeval hills are flattened.

\par }{\Q He travels on the ancient roads.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}I see the tents of Cushan overwhelmed by trouble;

\par }{\Q the tent curtains of the land of Midian are shaking.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Is the
{\ND{Lord}} mad at the rivers?

\par }{\Q Are you angry with the rivers?

\par }{\Q Are you enraged at the sea?

\par }{\Q Is this why you climb into your horse-drawn chariots,

\par }{\Q your victorious chariots?


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Your bow is ready for action;

\par }{\Q you commission your arrows.
{\IT{ Selah}}.

\par }{\Q You cause flash floods on the earth’s surface.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}When the mountains see you, they shake.

\par }{\Q The torrential downpour sweeps through.

\par }{\Q The great deep shouts out;

\par }{\Q it lifts its hands high.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}The sun and moon stand still in their courses;

\par }{\Q the flash of your arrows drives them away,

\par }{\Q the bright light of your lightning-quick spear.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}You furiously stomp on the earth,

\par }{\Q you angrily trample down the nations.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}You march out to deliver your people,

\par }{\Q to deliver your special servant.

\par }{\Q You strike the leader of the wicked nation,

\par }{\Q laying him open from the lower body to the neck.
{\IT{ Selah}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}You pierce the heads of his warriors with a spear.

\par }{\Q They storm forward to scatter us;

\par }{\Q they shout with joy as if they were plundering the poor with no opposition.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}But you trample on the sea with your horses,

\par }{\Q on the surging, raging waters.


\par }{\SH Habakkuk Declares His Confidence
\par }
{\Q \VS{16}I listened and my stomach churned;

\par }{\Q the sound made my lips quiver.

\par }{\Q My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying,

\par }{\Q and I shook as I tried to walk.

\par }{\Q I long for the day of distress

\par }{\Q to come upon the people who attack us.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}When the fig tree does not bud,

\par }{\Q and there are no grapes on the vines;

\par }{\Q when the olive trees do not produce,

\par }{\Q and the fields yield no crops;

\par }{\Q when the sheep disappear from the pen,

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


\par }{\Q \VS{18}I will rejoice because of the
{\ND{Lord}};

\par }{\Q I will be happy because of the God who delivers me!


\par }{\Q \VS{19}The sovereign
{\ND{Lord}} is my source of strength.

\par }{\Q He gives me the agility of a deer;

\par }{\Q he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.

\par }{\PP (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)


\par }