Habakkuk 3
The prophet Habakkuk expresses his fear and awe at God's power and mercy, describing God's glory and strength as He comes to judge the nations. God's wrath is not directed at nature, but at the wicked, and He will trample the earth and cause the nations to be stupefied. Despite the coming tribulation and desolation, Habakkuk resolves to rejoice in the Lord and trust in His strength.
1A Prayer of Habakkuk the Prophet on Behalf of Those Who Are Ignorant2Lord, I heard what has been said about you, and I was afraid. Lord, your work, in the midst of years, revive it. In the midst of years, you will make it known. When you have become angry, you will remember mercy3God will come from the south, and the Holy One from mount Pharan. His glory has covered the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise4His brightness shall be like the light; horns are in his hands. There, his strength has been hidden5Death will go forth before his face. And the devil shall depart before his feet6He stood, and measured the earth. He looked, and dissolved the Gentiles. And the mountains of ages past have been shattered. The hills of the world became curved by the journeys of his eternity7I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity; the tent-skins of the land of Midian will be thrown into confusion8Could you have been angry with the rivers, Lord? Or was your fury within the rivers, or your indignation in the sea? He will ascend upon your horses, and your four-horse chariots are salvation9Being stirred up, you will take up your bow, the oaths you have spoken to the tribes. You will split apart the Rivers of the earth10They saw you, and the mountains grieved. The great body of waters crossed over. The abyss uttered its voice. The pinnacle lifted up its hands11The sun and the moon have stood firm in their dwelling place; with the light of your arrows, they shall go forth in the splendor of your flashing spear12With a roar, you will trample the earth. In your fury, you will cause the nations to be stupefied13You have gone forth for the salvation of your people, for salvation with your Christ. You struck the head of the house of the impious. You have laid bare his foundation all the way to the neck14You have cursed his scepters, the head of his warriors, those who approached like a whirlwind so as to scatter me. Their exultation was like one who devours the poor in secret15You made a way in the sea for your horses, in the mud of great waters16I heard, and my stomach became troubled. My lips trembled at the voice. Let decay enter into my bones and gush forth from within me. Then I may rest in the day of tribulation, so that I may ascend to our people well-prepared17For the fig tree will not flower, and there will be no bud on the vines. The labor of the olive tree will be misleading, and the farmland will produce no food. The sheep will be cut off from the sheepfold, and there will be no herd at the manger18But I will rejoice in the Lord; and I will exult in God my Jesus19The Lord God is my strength. And he will set my feet like those of the stag. And he, the victor, will lead me beyond my high places while singing psalms
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