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Habakkuk

Questions why God allows evil and is reassured of God's justice.

Chapter 3

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1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

*A prayer by the prophet Habakkuk about the city called Shigionoth.

2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

*Dear GOD, I heard your words and got scared. GOD, bring your work back to life during these years and show it again. In anger, don't forget mercy.

3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

*God arrived from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. (Pause) His greatness filled the sky, and the world was filled with praises to him.

4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

*His brightness was like the sun, with horns coming from his hands. His true strength was hidden.

5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

*Before him, sickness came, and hot flames came out from under him.

6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.

*He stood and measured the Earth. He looked and separated the countries. The eternal mountains were scattered, and the constant hills bent down. His actions last forever.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

*I saw the tents of Cushan suffering: and the curtains of Midian's land shook.

8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?

*Was the LORD unhappy with the rivers? Did your anger target the rivers? Was your rage against the sea that you rode on your horses and your salvation chariots?

9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

*Your bow was uncovered, as promised by the tribes, following your word. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.

*The mountains saw you and shook. A lot of water flowed past. The deep sea made a noise and raised its hands very high.

11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

*The sun and moon stopped moving in their home when your arrows shone brightly. They also moved when your sparkly spear shone.

12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

*You marched through the land feeling angry, you crushed the non-believers with rage.

13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

*You went out to save your people, along with your chosen one; you defeated the leader of the evil group by revealing their hidden base up to their neck. (A pause or break is indicated by "Selah.")

14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.

*You struck the leaders of their towns using your authority, causing them to come at me like a storm. They celebrated as if secretly trying to eat up the weak.

15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

*You walked through the sea with your horses, through the big pile of water.

16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

*When I heard the news, I felt scared inside; my lips shook from the message: the feeling of decay entered my body, and I became weak, wanting to find peace during difficult times. When he arrives among the people, he will attack them with his soldiers.

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

*Even if fig trees don't bloom and vines have no fruit, olives won't produce and fields won't give food. Sheep will be taken away from their pen and no cows will be in their stalls.

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

*I will still be happy because of the Lord, and I will find joy in the God who saves me.

19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

*The Lord is my power, and He will make my feet strong like deer's feet, allowing me to walk confidently in high places. For the main singer accompanied by musical instruments.

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* work in progress, there will be mistakes

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