Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk the prophet prayed this prayer, set to the tune called Shigyonoth. 2 God, I have heard reports about what you have done, and I am in awe of all you have done. Do again in our time what you did long ago! Even when you are angry with us, act mercifully toward us! \* 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One came from Mount Paran. His glory covered the sky, and praise for him filled the whole earth. \* 4 He shone like the sunrise; his rays of light flashed from his hands, and that is where he conceals his awesome power. 5 Sickness went ahead of him like a soldier, and burning disease followed behind him. \* 6 He stopped and surveyed the earth. He looked at the nations and made them tremble. The mountains that have existed from the beginning of time collapsed; the ancient hills crumbled. He has always existed and always will. \* 7 I saw that the people in the tents of Cushan were distressed, and the people of Midian were trembling like tent curtains. 8 God, were you angry at the rivers and streams? Were you furious at the sea? No! You rode on your horses and on your chariots to defeat your enemies and rescue your people. \* 9 You took your bow out of its cover, ready to shoot. You made ready your arrows, just as you had promised. You split the ground, and water gushed out in rivers. 10 The mountains trembled when they saw you. A great flood of water rushed past. The ocean depths roared loudly and seemed to raise their hands high in the air. \* 11 The sun and the moon stopped moving as your arrows flew through the sky like flashes of light and your shining spear gleamed brightly. 12 You marched across the land in your anger, and you trampled the nations in your fury. \* 13 You went out to rescue your people, to save the king you had chosen. You crushed the ruler of the wicked people, destroying his power from his crown to his very foundation. \* 14 With the enemy’s own spear you killed their leader, who had come rushing like a whirlwind to scatter us and gloated like they were about to devour helpless people in hiding. 15 You smashed through the sea on your horses, churning through the great surging waves. \* 16 When I heard this, my stomach churned inside me; at the sound of it, my lips trembled. My bones felt like they were rotting, and my legs gave way beneath me. However, I will wait quietly for the time when disaster comes to the people who are attacking us. \* 17 The fig trees may not blossom, and there may be no grapes on the vines. The olive trees may produce nothing, and the fields may yield no crops. The flocks of sheep and goats may disappear from the pastures, and there may be no cattle in the stalls. \* 18 Even so, I will rejoice because I know God. I will be joyful because God is the God who saves me. 19 God the Lord makes me strong. He makes me as sure-footed as a deer and enables me to go safely to the high places. (This is for the choir director to use when the people sing this prayer with stringed instruments.)