1A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. In the mode of Shigionoth.aShigionoth Meaning uncertain; perhaps “psalms of supplication”; cf. Ps. 7.1.
2O ETERNAL One! I have learned of Your renown;I am awed, O ETERNAL One, by Your deeds.Renew them in these years,Oh, make them known in these years!Though angry, may You remember compassion.
3God is coming from Teman,The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.bSelah A musical direction of uncertain meaning. God’s majesty covers the skies,Such splendor fills the earth:
4cMeaning of verse uncertain. It is a brilliant lightThat gives off rays on every side—And therein God’s glory is enveloped.
5Pestilence marches in front,And plague comes forth at God’s heels.
6God’s standing up makes the earth shake;dshake Cf. Targum and Septuagint. A mere glance makes nations tremble.The age-old mountains are shattered,The primeval hills sink low.God’s routes are ancient:
7As a scene of havoc I beholdeGod’s routes … I behold Meaning of Heb. uncertain. The tents of Cushan;Shaken are the pavilionsOf the land of Midian!
8Are You wroth, O ETERNAL One, with Neharim?Is Your anger against Neharim,Your rage against YamfNeharim…Yam Neharim (lit. “Floods”) and Yam (lit. “Sea”) were marine monsters vanquished by GOD in hoary antiquity. On Yam see Ps. 74.13; Job 7.12. A being called both Yam and Nahar figures in early Canaanite literature.—That You are driving Your steeds,Your victorious chariot?
9All bared and ready is Your bow.Sworn are the rods of the word.gSworn are the rods of the word Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Selah.You make the earth burst into streams,
10The mountains rock at the sight of You,A torrent of rain comes down;Loud roars the deep,The sky returns the echo.hThe sky returns the echo Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
11Sun [and] moon stand still on highAs Your arrows fly in brightness,Your flashing spear in brilliance.
12You tread the earth in rage,You trample nations in fury.
13You have come forth to deliver Your people,To deliver Your anointed.iYour anointed I.e., the king of Judah. You will smash the roof of the villain’s house,Raze it from foundation to top. Selah.
14You will crack [the enemy’s] skull with YourjYour Heb. 3rd person. bludgeon;Blown away shall be his warriors,Whose delight is to crush me suddenly,To devour a pauper in an ambush.kYou will smash … in an ambush Emendation yields: “You will strike the heads of evildoers, / Smash the pates of Your adversaries. Selah. / You will crack their skulls with Your bludgeon; / Dispersed, blown like chaff shall be they / Who lie in wait to swallow the innocent, / To devour the poor in an ambush.”
15You will make Your steeds tread the sea,Stirring the mighty waters.
16I heard and my bowels quaked,My lips quivered at the sound;Rot entered into my bone,I trembled where I stood.Yet I wait calmly for the day of distress,For a people to come to attack us.
17Though the fig tree does not budAnd no yield is on the vine,Though the olive crop has failedAnd the fields produce no grain,Though sheep have vanished from the foldAnd no cattle are in the pen,lOr: 15“You will make Your steeds tread the sea, / Stirring the mighty waters, / 16That I may have rest on a day of distress, / When a people come up to attack us. / But this report made my bowels quake, / These tidings made my lips quiver; / Rot entered into my bone, / I trembled where I stood: / 17That the fig tree does not bud, / And no yield is on the vine; / The olive crop has failed, / And the fields produce no grain; / The sheep have vanished from the fold, / And no cattle are in the pen.”
18Yet will I rejoice in GOD,Exult in the God who delivers me.
19The Sovereign GOD is my strength,Making my feet like the deer’sAnd letting me stride upon the heights.For the leader; with instrumental music.mFor the leader; with instrumental music Meaning of Heb. uncertain.