1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, upon Shigionoth.
2YHWH, I have heard your report, and I feared. YHWH, your work—in the midst of the years revive it (chai); in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
3God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His majesty covers the heavens, and his praise fills the earth.
4And the brightness is like the light; rays from his hand are his, and there is the hiding of his strength.
5Before him goes pestilence, and a flame goes forth at his feet.
6He stood and measured the earth; he looked and startled nations; and the eternal mountains were shattered, the everlasting hills bowed down. The everlasting goings are his.
7In trouble I saw the tents of Cushan; the curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
8Is it against the rivers, YHWH—is your anger kindled against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea—that you ride upon your horses, your chariots of salvation (yeshuah)?
9Your bow is made utterly bare; sworn are the rods of the word. Selah. With rivers you cleave the earth.
10The mountains saw you and writhed; a downpour of waters passed over; the deep gave its voice, it lifted its hands on high.
11Sun and moon stood still in their lofty dwelling; at the light of your arrows they go, at the brightness of the lightning of your spear.
12In indignation you march through the earth; in anger you thresh nations.
13You went forth for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed; you struck the head from the house of the wicked, laying bare the foundation to the neck. Selah.
14You pierced with his own rods the head of his warriors, who stormed to scatter me; their exultation was as to devour the poor in secret.
15You trod the sea with your horses, the heap of many waters.
16I heard, and my belly trembled; at the voice my lips quivered; rottenness enters into my bones, and beneath me I tremble; that I should rest for the day of distress, when he comes up against the people that he invades.
17Though the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no produce on the vines; the yield of the olive fails, and the fields make no food; the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls—
18Yet I will exult in YHWH; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19YHWH my Lord (Adonai) is my strength, and he makes my feet like the hinds', and upon my high places he makes me tread. To the Chief Musician, with my stringed instruments.