\NormalFont\ShortTitle{HABAKKUK}
{\MTB This book contains the account of God revealing to Habakkuk that what God does is good. We call this book
\par }{\MT Habakkuk

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am}}
Habakkuk,
a
prophet.
This
is
the
{\ADD{
message
that
Yahweh}}
gave
to
me
in
a
vision.
\par }{\SH Habakkuk’s
first
complaint
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
I
said,}} “Yahweh,
how
long
must
I
continue
to
call
{\ADD{
to
you}}
for
help
\par }{\QB before
you
respond?
\par }{\Q I
cry
out
to
you
{\ADD{
for
help}},
saying
that
{\ADD{
people
are
acting}}
violently
{\ADD{
everywhere}},
\par }{\QB but
you
do
not
rescue
us!
\par }{\Q \VS{3}◄Must
I/I
do
not
want
to►
continue
seeing
people
doing
what
is
unjust [RHQ].
\par }{\QB Why
do
you
not
punish
people
who
are
doing
what
is
wrong [RHQ]?
\par }{\Q I
see
people
destroying
things
and
{\ADD{
acting}}
violently.
\par }{\QB There
is
fighting
and
quarreling
{\ADD{
everywhere}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}No
one
obeys
laws [PRS],
\par }{\QB and
judges [PRS]
never
do
what
is
fair/just.
\par }{\Q Wicked
people
always
defeat
righteous
people
{\ADD{
in
the
courts}},
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
matters
are
never
decided
fairly/justly.”
\par }{\SH Yahweh’s
reply
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
Yahweh
replied
to
me,}}
\par }{\Q “{\ADD{
I
know
that
what
you
say
is
true,
but}}
look
around
at
{\ADD{
what
is happening
in}}
the
other
nations;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
if
you
look,}}
you
will
be
amazed,
\par }{\Q because
I
am
doing
something
during
this
time
that
you
would
not
believe
{\ADD{
would
happen}},
\par }{\QB even
if
someone
told
you
about
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
soldiers
of
Babylonia
are
fierce/cruel
and
swift.
\par }{\QB And
now
I
am
causing
them
{\ADD{
to
become
very
powerful}};
\par }{\Q they
will
march
across
the
world
\par }{\QB and
conquer
{\ADD{
many}}
other
countries.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
are
people
whom
{\ADD{
others}}
fear
very
much [DOU],
\par }{\QB and
they
do
whatever
they
want
to,
\par }{\QB paying
no
attention
to
the
laws
of
other
countries.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}The
horses
{\ADD{
that
pull
their
chariots}}
go
faster
than
leopards,
\par }{\QB and
they
are
fiercer
than
wolves
are
in
the
evening.
\par }{\Q The
horses
on
which
the
soldiers
ride
gallop
swiftly;
\par }{\QB the
soldiers
riding
them
come
from
distant
places.
\par }{\Q They
are
like [SIM]
eagles
that
swoop
down
to
{\ADD{
snatch
and}}
kill
small
animals.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}As
they
ride
along,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
they
are}}
determined
to
act
violently.
\par }{\Q They
advance
like [SIM]
a
wind
from
the
desert,
\par }{\QB gathering
prisoners
that
are
as
{\ADD{
numerous
as
grains
of}}
sand.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}They
make fun
of
kings
and
princes
{\ADD{
of
other
countries}},
\par }{\QB and
they
ridicule
all
the
cities
that
have
high
walls
around
them.
\par }{\Q They
pile
dirt
{\ADD{
outside
those
walls}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
in
order
to
climb
up}}
and
capture
those
cities.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}They
rush
past
like
the
wind,
\par }{\QB and
then
they
go
{\ADD{
to
attack
other
cities}}.
\par }{\Q But
they
are
very
guilty,
\par }{\QB because
{\ADD{
they
think
that}}
their
own
power
is
their
god.”
\par }{\SH Habakkuk’s
second
complaint
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
Then
I
said,}} “Yahweh,
you
have
certainly [RHQ]
always/forever
been
God.
\par }{\QB You
are
my
Holy
One;
you
will
not
die.
\par }{\Q So
{\ADD{
why}}
have
you
appointed
those
men
{\ADD{
from
Babylonia}}
to
judge
and
get
rid
of
{\ADD{
us}}?
\par }{\QB You
are
like [MET]
a
huge
rock
{\ADD{
under
which
we
are
protected/safe}},
\par }{\QB so
why
have
you
sent
them
to
punish
us?
\par }{\Q \VS{13}You [SYN]
are
pure,
and
you
cannot
endure
looking
at
what
is
evil,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
so
why
}}
are
you ignoring
men
who
are
treacherous?
\par }{\Q Why
do
you
do
nothing
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
to
punish}}
those
wicked
men
{\ADD{
from
Babylonia}}
\par }{\QB who
destroy
people
who
are
more
righteous
than
they
{\ADD{
are}}?
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
Do
you
consider
that}}
we
are
like
fish
in
the
sea,
\par }{\QB or
like
other
creatures
in
the
sea,
that
have
no
ruler?
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
The
soldiers
of
Babylonia
think
that
we
are
fish}} [RHQ]
for
them
to
pull
out
of
the
sea
with
hooks
\par }{\QB or
to
catch
in
their
nets,
\par }{\QB while
they
rejoice
and
celebrate.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}If
they
catch
us,
they
will
{\ADD{
worship}}
their
weapons [MET]
with
which
they
captured
us,
and
offer
sacrifices
to
them
\par }{\QB and
burn
incense
in
front
of
them!
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
They
will
say}} ‘Those
weapons
have
enabled
us
to
become
rich
and
be
able
to
eat expensive
food.’
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
Will
you
allow}}
them
to
continue
{\ADD{
to
conquer
people}} [MET]
forever?
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Will
you
allow}}
them
to
destroy
people
of
other
nations
without
their
being
merciful
{\ADD{
to
anyone}}?”

\par }\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
After
I
said
that,
I
said
to
myself,}} “I
will
climb
up
into
my
watchtower,
\par }{\QB and
stand
there
at
my
guard
post.
\par }{\Q I
will
wait
there
to
find
out
what
Yahweh
will
say,
\par }{\QB what
he
will
reply
to
what
I
have
complained
about.”
\par }{\SH Yahweh’s
second
reply
\par }{\PP \VS{2}Then
Yahweh
replied
to
me,
\par }{\Q “Write
plainly
on
tablets
{\ADD{
what
I
am
revealing
to
you
in}}
this
vision,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
then
read
it
to
a
messenger}}
\par }{\QB in
order
that
he
can
run
with
it
{\ADD{
to
tell
it
to}}
other
people.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}In
this
vision
{\ADD{
I
will
be
talking
about
things
that
will
happen}}
in
the
future.
\par }{\Q Now
is
not
the
time
when
those
things
will
happen,
\par }{\QB but
they
certainly
will
happen,
\par }{\QB and
when
they
occur,
they
will
occur
quickly,
\par }{\QB and
they
will
not
be
delayed.
\par }{\Q Now
you
{\ADD{
want
those
things
to
happen
immediately,
but}}
they
are
not happening.
\par }{\QB But
wait
patiently
for
them
{\ADD{
to
happen}}!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Think
about
the
proud
{\ADD{
people
of
Babylonia}}!
\par }{\QB They
are
certainly
not
doing
what
is
righteous.
\par }{\Q But
people
who
are
righteous
will
live
\par }{\QB because
they
faithfully
{\ADD{
do
what
I
want
them
to
do}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}If
people
{\ADD{
trust
in
their
wealth}},
they
will
deceive
themselves,
\par }{\QB and
proud
people
are
never
able
to
rest.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
the
greedy
people
{\ADD{
of
Babylonia
open
their
mouths}}
as
wide
as
the
place
where
dead
people
are,
\par }{\Q and
they
never
have
enough,
\par }{\QB like
{\ADD{
the
place
where}}
dead
people
go
never
has
enough
dead
people [PRS].
\par }{\Q The
{\ADD{
armies
of
Babylonia}}
conquer
many
nations
for
themselves,
\par }{\QB and
capture
all
their
people.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But
{\ADD{
soon}}
all
those
{\ADD{
whom
they
have
captured}}
will
ridicule
{\ADD{
the
soldiers
from
Babylonia}}!
\par }{\Q They
will
make fun
of
them,
saying,
\par }{\QB ‘Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
who
have
stolen
things
{\ADD{
from
other
countries}}!
\par }{\Q You
got
many
things
by
forcing
people
to
give
them
to
you.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
But
you
certainly
will
not
keep
those
things}}
for
a
long
time [RHQ]!’
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Suddenly
those
whom
you ◄oppressed/treated
cruelly►
will
cause
you
to
tremble,
\par }{\QB and
they
will
take
away
all
the
things
that
you
have
stolen
from
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}You
stole
things
from
the
people
of
many
nations.
\par }{\Q You
murdered [MTY]
people
of
many people-groups,
\par }{\QB and
you
destroyed
their
land
and
their
cities.
\par }{\Q So
those
who
are
still
alive
will
steal
valuable
things
from
you.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
{\ADD{
people
of
Babylonia}}
who
build
big
houses
\par }{\QB with
money
that
you
got
by
forcing
others
to
give
it
to
you.
\par }{\Q You
are
proud
and
you
think
that
your
houses
will
be
safe
\par }{\QB because
you
have
built
them
in
places
where
you
can
easily
defend
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}But
because
you
have
destroyed
others,
\par }{\QB you
have
caused
your
family [MTY]
to
be
shamed/disgraced,
\par }{\QB and
you
yourselves
will
be
killed.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
the
stones
in
the
walls
{\ADD{
of
your
houses}}
cry
out
to
accuse
you,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
the
beams
{\ADD{
in
your ceilings}}
also
say
the
same
things.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
{\ADD{
people
of
Babylonia}}
who
kill
people [MTY]
in
order
to
build
cities,
\par }{\QB cities
that
you
build
by
using
money
that
you
have
gotten
by
committing
crimes.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}But
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
has [RHQ]
declared
that
everything
that
is
built
by
people
who
do
things
like
that
{\ADD{
will
be
destroyed
by}}
fire;
\par }{\QB they
will
have
worked
hard
uselessly.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}But
{\ADD{
in contrast}},
like [SIM]
the
oceans
are
filled
with
water,
\par }{\QB the
earth
will
be
filled
with
{\ADD{
people
who}}
know
that
Yahweh
is
very
great.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
{\ADD{
people
of
Babylonia}}
\par }{\QB who
cause
people
who
live
in
nearby
countries
to
become
drunk.
\par }{\Q You
force
them
to
drink
a
lot
of
wine
from
wineskins
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
until
they
are
drunk
and
then
they
walk
around}}
naked,
\par }{\QB in
order
that
you
can
see
that.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}But
you
are
the
ones
who
{\ADD{
soon}}
will
be
disgraced
instead
of
being
honored.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
It
will
be
as
though
you
are
forced
to}}
drink
{\ADD{
a
lot
of
wine}}
in
order
that
you
will
also
stagger
{\ADD{
around,
drunk}}.
\par }{\Q You
will
drink
the
wine
{\ADD{
that
symbolizes
that
Yahweh
will
punish
you}},
\par }{\QB and
he
will
cause
you
to
be
disgraced
instead
of
being
greatly
respected
{\ADD{
anymore}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}You
did
violent [PRS]
things
to
{\ADD{
the
people
in}}
Lebanon,
\par }{\QB and
you
killed
the
wild
animals
{\ADD{
there}},
\par }{\Q but
you
will
be
punished
severely
for
doing
that.
\par }{\Q You
have
killed [MTY]
many
people
\par }{\QB and
you
have
destroyed
their
lands
and
their
cities.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}{\ADD{
You
people
of
Babylonia
need
to
know
that
your}}
idols
are
completely [RHQ]
useless,
\par }{\QB because
it
is
people
who
made
them.
\par }{\Q Statues
that
have
been
carved
or
made
in
a
mold
deceive
you.
\par }{\QB Those
who
trust
in
idols
\par }{\QB are
trusting
in
things
that
they
themselves
created,
\par }{\Q things
that
cannot
speak!
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
who
say
to lifeless
idols
that
are
made
of
wood,
\par }{\QB ‘Wake
up!’
\par }{\Q Idols
certainly
cannot [RHQ]
tell
you
what
you
should
do;
\par }{\QB they
{\ADD{
look
nice/beautiful
because}}
they
are
covered
with
silver
and
gold,
\par }{\QB but
they
are
not
alive.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}But
Yahweh
is
in
his
holy
temple;
\par }{\QB everyone
on
the
earth
should
be
silent
in
his
presence.”

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH A prayer sung by Habakkuk
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1-2}Yahweh,
I
have
heard
about
you;
\par }{\Q I
revere
you
because
of
{\ADD{
all
the
amazing}}
things
that
you
have
done.
\par }{\QB In
our
time,
do
again
{\ADD{
some
of}}
those
things
that
you
did
long
ago!
\par }{\Q Even
when
you
are
angry
{\ADD{
with
us}},
\par }{\QB be
merciful
{\ADD{
to
us}}!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
In
the
vision,
I
saw}}
God,
the
Holy
One,
coming
from
the
Teman
{\ADD{
district
in
Edom}};
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
I
also
saw}}
him
coming
from
the
Paran
Hills
{\ADD{
in
the
Sinai
area}}.
\par }{\Q His
glory
filled
the
sky,
\par }{\QB and
the
earth
was
full
of
{\ADD{
people
who
were}}
praising
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}His
glory
was
like [SIM]
a
sunrise;
\par }{\QB rays
flashed
from
his
hands
\par }{\QB where
he
hides
his
power.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}He
sent
plagues
in
front
of
him,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
other}}
plagues
came
behind
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}When
he
stopped,
the
earth
shook.
\par }{\Q When
he
looked
at
the
nations,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
all
the
people}}
trembled.
\par }{\Q The
hills
and
mountains
that
have
existed
for
a
very
long
time [HYP]
collapsed
and
crumbled.
\par }{\QB Yahweh
is
the
one
who
exists
eternally/forever!
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{
In
the
vision}}
I
saw
the
{\ADD{
people
who
live
in}}
tents
in
the
Cushan
{\ADD{
region}}
being
afflicted,
\par }{\QB and
the
people
in
the
Midian
{\ADD{
region}}
trembling.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Yahweh,
was
it
because
you
were
angry
with
the
rivers
and
streams
that
you
were
angry
with
them?
\par }{\Q Did
the
seas
cause
you
to
be
furious,
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
you
rode
through
them
with
horses
that
were pulling
chariots
\par }{\QB that
enabled
you
to
defeat
them?
\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
It
was
as
though}}
you
uncovered
your
bow,
\par }{\QB took
arrows
from
your
quiver,
{\ADD{
and
prepared
to
shoot
them}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Then
with
lightning}}
you
split
open
the
earth,
\par }{\QB and
streams
burst
forth.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
the
mountains
saw
you
{\ADD{
doing
that}},
\par }{\QB and
they
trembled.
\par }{\Q Floods
rushed
by;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
was
as
though}}
the
deep
ocean
roared
and
caused
its
waves
to
rise
up
high.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}The
sun
and
moon
stopped
moving
in
the
sky
\par }{\QB while
your
{\ADD{
lightning}}
flashed
{\ADD{
past
like}}
a
swift
arrow,
\par }{\QB and
your
glittering
spear
flashed.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Being
very
angry [DOU],
you
walked
across
the
earth
\par }{\QB and
trampled
the
{\ADD{
armies
of
many}}
nations.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}But
you
{\ADD{
also}}
went
to
rescue
us,
your
people,
\par }{\QB and
to
save
the
{\ADD{
king}} (Or,
{\ADD{
people}})
whom
you
had
chosen [MTY].
\par }{\Q You
struck
down
the
leader [MTY]
of
those
wicked
people
\par }{\QB and
stripped
off
his
clothes,
from
his
head
to
his
feet.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}With
his
own
spear
you
destroyed
the
leader
of
those
soldiers
who
rushed
like [SIM]
a
whirlwind
to
{\ADD{
attack
and}}
scatter
us,
\par }{\QB thinking
that
they
could
conquer
us
{\ADD{Israelis}}
easily.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}You
walked
through
the
sea
with
your
horses
{\ADD{
to
destroy
our
enemies}},
\par }{\QB and
caused
the
waves
to
surge.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}When
I
saw
that
vision,
\par }{\QB my
heart
pounded
\par }{\Q and
my
lips
quivered
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because
I
became
afraid}}.
\par }{\Q My
legs
became
weak
\par }{\QB and
I
shook,
{\ADD{
because
I
was
terrified}}.
\par }{\Q But
I
will
wait
quietly
for
the
people
{\ADD{
of
Babylonia}},
those
who
invaded
our
country,
to
experience
disasters!
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
Therefore,}}
\par }{\Q even
if
there
are
no
blossoms
on
the
fig
trees,
\par }{\QB and
there
are
no
grapes
on
the grapevines,
\par }{\Q and
even
if
there
are
no
olives
growing
on
the
olive
trees,
\par }{\QB and
there
are
no
crops
in
the
fields,
\par }{\Q and
even
if
the
flocks
{\ADD{
of
sheep
and
goats}}
die
in
the
fields,
\par }{\QB and
there
are
no
cattle
in
the
stalls/barns,
\par }{\Q \VS{18}I
will
rejoice
because
{\ADD{
I
know}}
Yahweh.
\par }{\QB I
will
be
joyful
because
Yahweh
my
God
is
the
one
who
saves
me!
\par }{\Q \VS{19}Yahweh
the
Lord
is
the
one
who
causes
me
to
be
strong;
\par }{\QB he enables
me
to
climb
{\ADD{◄safely/without
falling►}}
in
the
{\ADD{
rocky}}
mountains,
like [SIM]
a
deer
does.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q (This
message
is
for
the
choir
director:
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
When
this
prayer
is
sung,
it
is
to
be
accompanied
by
people
playing}}
stringed
instruments.)
\par }