uW Translation Notes:

General Information:

Habakkuk speaks to Yahweh about the Chaldeans.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

(Occurrence 0) Are you not from ancient times, Yahweh my God, my Holy One?

(Some words not found in UHB: am=not you(ms) from=east YHWH God_of,my my_holy_of,[one] not die YHWH to,judgment you,have_appointed_it and,O_rock to,reprove you,have_established_it )

Habakkuk asks this rhetorical question to emphasize the positive answer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question as a statement. Alternate translation: “You surely are from ancient times, Yahweh my God, my Holy One.”

(Occurrence 0) from ancient times

(Some words not found in UHB: am=not you(ms) from=east YHWH God_of,my my_holy_of,[one] not die YHWH to,judgment you,have_appointed_it and,O_rock to,reprove you,have_established_it )

Alternate translation: “eternal”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence 0) has ordained them for judgment, and you, Rock, have established them for correction

(Some words not found in UHB: am=not you(ms) from=east YHWH God_of,my my_holy_of,[one] not die YHWH to,judgment you,have_appointed_it and,O_rock to,reprove you,have_established_it )

The word “them” refers to the Chaldeans. The words “judgment” and “correction” can be translated with verbs. The reader should understand that the Chaldeans will judge and correct Yahweh’s people. Alternate translation: “has ordained them to judge his people, and you, Rock, have established them to correct your people”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) Rock

(Some words not found in UHB: am=not you(ms) from=east YHWH God_of,my my_holy_of,[one] not die YHWH to,judgment you,have_appointed_it and,O_rock to,reprove you,have_established_it )

Habakkuk speaks of Yahweh being the one who protects him and keeps him safe as if he were a rock upon which Habakkuk could stand in order to be out of his enemies’ reach.