3 A prayer of the prophet Havakuk (Habakkuk) designed to be sung:[fn]
2 Yahweh, I’ve heard the report about what you’ve done,
≈ and I’m in awe of your work, Yahweh.
Do it again in our times—
≈ show us again in this age.
Despite your severe anger, remember to have compassion.
3 God came in from Teyman in Edom,
and the sinless from Mt. Paran. (Instrumental break.)
His splendour blanketed the skies,
≈ and the earth was full of his praise.
4 His brightness was like the light—
rays flashed from his hand
where he kept his power.
5 Deadly disease went ahead of him,
≈ then the plague followed along behind.
6 He stood and measured the earth.
He looked and made the nations tremble.
Even the ancient mountains were shattered,
≈ and the everlasting hills bowed down.
His ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the people in tents in Kushan in trouble.
≈ The tent curtains in the Midyan region were trembling.
8 Was your rage against the rivers, Yahweh?
Was your anger against the rivers,
or your fury against the ocean,
when you rode in on your horses and your victorious chariots?
9 You got your bow out ready to use.
Each arrow was a promise you’d made. (Instrumental break.)
You split the earth open with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you and twisted in pain.
A storm brought heavy rain down on them.
The deep sea raised its voice—
it sent up high waves.
11 The sun and moon have stopped in their places
with the light from your arrows as they fly by,
yes, with the gleam of your flashing spear.
12 You have marched over the world in your fury.
You’ve trampled down the nations in anger.
13 You went out to rescue your people—
to save your anointed one.
You crush the leader of the house of wicked
to strip him from the thigh up to the neck. (Instrumental break.)
14 You have pierced the head of his warriors with his own arrows,
since they came like a storm to scatter us—
their gloating was like someone who destroys weak people in secret.
15 You trod on top of the sea with your horses—
churning the many waters.
16 I heard, and my insides turned to jelly.
My lips quivered at the sound.
My bones start aching, and my legs tremble beneath me.
However, I will wait quietly for the day of distress to hit the people who invaded us.
17 Even if the fig tree doesn’t produce buds
and there is no fruit on the grapevines,
and although the olive tree stops producing,
and the fields yield no food,
and although the sheep and goats can’t return to their pens,
and there are no cattle in their stalls,
18 I’ll still praise Yahweh.
I’ll celebrate because God saves me.
19 I trust my master Yahweh for my strength,
and he makes my feet agile like a deer’s feet.
He helps me climb up to my high places.[ref]
For the musical director, on my stringed instruments.
