Habakkuk 3:12-19

12 In gnashing thou shalt defoul earth, and in strong vengeance thou shalt astonish folks. (Thou shalt defile the earth with thy gnashing, and thou shalt greatly astonish the nations with thy vengeance.)
13 Thou art gone out into health of thy people, into health with thy christ; thou hast smitten the head of the house of the unpious man, thou hast made naked the foundament till to the neck. (Thou hast gone forth for the salvation of thy people, and for the salvation of thy anointed king; thou hast struck the head of the house of the unrighteous, or of the wicked, and thou hast made naked its foundations unto the neck, or unto the rock.)
14 Thou cursedest the sceptre, either power, of him, (that is,) the head of his fighters, to men coming as whirlwind for to scatter me; (thou heardest) the joying withoutforth of them, as of him that devoureth a poor man in huddles. (Thou hast cursed his sceptre, or his power, that is, thou hast pierced the leaders of his fighting men, who came like a whirlwind to destroy me; thou hast heard their rejoicing, like those who devour the poor in secret.)
15 Thou madest a way in the sea to thine horses, in clay of many waters. (Thou hast made a way in the sea with thy horses, through the clay of many waters.)
16 I heard, and my womb is troubled together; my lips trembled together of the voice. Rot entered in[to] my bones, and sprang under me; that I rest again in the day of tribulation, and I shall go up to our people girded together. (I heard, and my belly altogether shook; my lips altogether trembled at the sound. Rot entered into my bones, and sprang up under me. O! that I might rest again after the day of tribulation, when thou shalt go up against those who assail us.)
17 For the fig tree shall not flower, and burgeoning shall not be in vineyards; the work of [the] olive tree shall lie (down), and fields shall not bring (forth) meat; a sheep shall be cut away from the fold, a drove shall not be in cratches. (Yea, though the fig tree flowereth not, and burgeoning be not be in the vineyards; the work of the olive tree falleth down, and the fields bring not forth a harvest; and the sheep be cut away from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls;)
18 Forsooth I shall have joy in the Lord, and I shall make joy withoutforth in God my Jesus. (still I shall have joy in the Lord, and I shall rejoice in God my Saviour.)
19 God the Lord is my strength, and he shall put my feet as of harts; and on mine high things, the overcomer shall lead forth me, singing in psalms. (The Lord God is my strength, and he shall make my feet like the feet of harts; and the Overcomer shall lead me forth on the high places, singing in psalms.)

Images for Habakkuk 3:12-19

Habakkuk 3:12-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 3

The title of this chapter is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, composed after the manner of a psalm of David, and directed to the chief singer, Hab 3:1,19. The occasion of it is expressed, Hab 3:2 in which the prophet declares his concern for the work of the Lord, and the promotion of the kingdom and interest of Christ; and observes the various steps that were, or would be, taken for the advancement of it; for which he prays, and suggests that these would be after the manner of the Lord's dealing with the people of Israel, and settling them in the land of Canaan, Hab 3:3-15 and there being several things awful in this account, both with respect to the judgments of God on his enemies, and the conflicts and trials of his own people, it greatly affected the mind of the prophet, Hab 3:16 and yet, in the view of the worst, he expresses his strong faith in the Lord, as to better times and things, that would most assuredly come, Hab 3:17-19.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.