Habakkuk, chapter 3
Habakkuk's Prayer of Praise and Trust
Habakkuk's prayer in chapter 3 begins with a request for the Lord to be merciful to the people of Judah (3.2) and then continues with a description of the Lord's presence and power in the world (3.3-15). Habakkuk is overwhelmed by the Lord's awesome power, which makes him confident that the Lord will save the people of Judah, even though they face difficulties at the present time.
Habakkuk's Prayer
his is my prayer:
2I know your reputation, Lord,
and I am amazed at what you have done.
Please turn from your anger and be merciful;
do for us what you did for our ancestors.
3You are the same Holy God
who came from Teman and Paran to help us.
The brightness of your glory covered the heavens,
and your praises were heard everywhere on earth.
4Your glory shone like the sun,
and light flashed from your hands,
hiding your mighty power.
5Dreadful diseases and plagues marched in front
and followed behind.
6 When you stopped, the earth shook;
when you stared, nations trembled;
when you walked along your ancient paths,
eternal mountains and hills crumbled and collapsed.
7The tents of desert tribes in Cushan and Midian
were ripped apart.
8Our Lord, were you angry with the monsters
of the deep?
You attacked in your chariot and wiped them out.
9Your arrows were ready and obeyed your commands.
You split the earth apart with rivers and streams;
10mountains trembled at the sight of you;
rain poured from the clouds;
ocean waves roared and rose.
11The sun and moon stood still,
while your arrows and spears flashed like lightning.
12In your furious anger, you trampled on nations
13to rescue your people and save your chosen one.
You crushed a nation's ruler
and stripped his evil kingdom of its power.
14His troops had come like a storm,
hoping to scatter us and glad to gobble us up.
To them we were refugees in hiding—
but you smashed their heads with their own weapons.
15Then your chariots churned the waters of the sea.
Habakkuk's Response to God's Message
16When I heard this message, I felt weak from fear,
and my lips quivered.
My bones seemed to melt, and I stumbled around.
But I will patiently wait.
Someday those vicious enemies will be struck by disaster.
Trust in a Time of Trouble
17Fig trees may no longer bloom,
or vineyards produce grapes; olive trees may be fruitless,
and harvest time a failure;
sheep pens may be empty,
and cattle stalls vacant—
18but I will still celebrate
because the Lord God is my Savior.
19 The Lord gives me strength.
He makes my feet as sure as those of a deer,
and he helps me stand on the mountains.
To the music director: Use stringed instruments.