חֲבַקּוּק
Chavakuk · חֲבַקּוּק
3 Chapters
פֶּרֶק א׳ Habakkuk's complaint and God's answer
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1
הַמַּשָּׂא֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה חֲבַקּ֖וּק הַנָּבִֽיא׃
The pronouncement made by the prophet Habakkuk.
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2
עַד־אָ֧נָה יְהֹוָ֛ה שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶזְעַ֥ק אֵלֶ֛יךָ חָמָ֖ס וְלֹ֥א תוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
How long, O ETERNAL One, shall I cry outAnd You not listen,Shall I shout to You, “Violence!”And You not save?
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3
לָ֣מָּה תַרְאֵ֤נִי אָ֙וֶן֙ וְעָמָ֣ל תַּבִּ֔יט וְשֹׁ֥ד וְחָמָ֖ס לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וַיְהִ֧י רִ֦יב וּמָד֖וֹן יִשָּֽׂא׃
Why do You make me see iniquity[Why] do You looka[Why] do You look Targum and Syriac “So that I look.” upon wrong?—Raiding and violence are before me,Strife continues and contention goes on.bgoes on Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
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4
עַל־כֵּן֙ תָּפ֣וּג תּוֹרָ֔ה וְלֹא־יֵצֵ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח מִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֤י רָשָׁע֙ מַכְתִּ֣יר אֶת־הַצַּדִּ֔יק עַל־כֵּ֛ן יֵצֵ֥א מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְעֻקָּֽל׃
That is why decision failsAnd justice never emerges;For villains hedge in those whose cause is just—Therefore judgment emerges deformed.
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5
רְא֤וּ בַגּוֹיִם֙ וְֽהַבִּ֔יטוּ וְהִֽתַּמְּה֖וּ תְּמָ֑הוּ כִּי־פֹ֙עַל֙ פֹּעֵ֣ל בִּימֵיכֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תַאֲמִ֖ינוּ כִּ֥י יְסֻפָּֽר׃
“Look among the nations,Observe well and be utterly astounded;For a work is being wrought in your daysThat you would not believe if it were told.
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6
כִּֽי־הִנְנִ֤י מֵקִים֙ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים הַגּ֖וֹי הַמַּ֣ר וְהַנִּמְהָ֑ר הַהוֹלֵךְ֙ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ לָרֶ֖שֶׁת מִשְׁכָּנ֥וֹת לֹּא־לֽוֹ׃
For lo, I am raising up the Chaldeans,That fierce, impetuous nation,Who cross the earth’s wide spacesTo seize homes not their own.
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7
אָיֹ֥ם וְנוֹרָ֖א ה֑וּא מִמֶּ֕נּוּ מִשְׁפָּט֥וֹ וּשְׂאֵת֖וֹ יֵצֵֽא׃
They are terrible, dreadful;They make their own laws and rules.cThey make their own laws and rules Lit. “Their law and majesty proceed from themselves.”
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8
וְקַלּ֨וּ מִנְּמֵרִ֜ים סוּסָ֗יו וְחַדּוּ֙ מִזְּאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב וּפָ֖שׁוּ פָּרָשָׁ֑יו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ מֵרָח֣וֹק יָבֹ֔אוּ יָעֻ֕פוּ כְּנֶ֖שֶׁר חָ֥שׁ לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃
Their horses are swifter than leopards,Fleeter than wolves of the steppe.dsteppe Understanding ʻereb as synonymous with ʻarabah; cf. Jer. 5.6. Their steeds gallop—their steedsetheir steeds The Qumran Habakkuk commentary (hereafter 1QpHab) reads “and spread [wings].” Come flying from afar.Like vultures rushing toward food,
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9
כֻּלֹּה֙ לְחָמָ֣ס יָב֔וֹא מְגַמַּ֥ת פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם קָדִ֑ימָה וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף כַּח֖וֹל שֶֽׁבִי׃
They all come, bent on rapine.The thrustfthrust Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of their van is forward,And they amass captives like sand.
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10
וְהוּא֙ בַּמְּלָכִ֣ים יִתְקַלָּ֔ס וְרֹזְנִ֖ים מִשְׂחָ֣ק ל֑וֹ ה֚וּא לְכׇל־מִבְצָ֣ר יִשְׂחָ֔ק וַיִּצְבֹּ֥ר עָפָ֖ר וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃
Kings they hold in derision,And princes are a joke to them;They laugh at every fortress,They pile up earth and capture it.
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11
אָ֣ז חָלַ֥ף ר֛וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר וְאָשֵׁ֑ם ז֥וּ כֹח֖וֹ לֵאלֹהֽוֹ׃
gMeaning of verse uncertain. Then they pass on like the wind,They transgress and incur guilt,For they ascribe their might to their god.”
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12
הֲל֧וֹא אַתָּ֣ה מִקֶּ֗דֶם יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י קְדֹשִׁ֖י לֹ֣א נָמ֑וּת יְהֹוָה֙ לְמִשְׁפָּ֣ט שַׂמְתּ֔וֹ וְצ֖וּר לְהוֹכִ֥יחַ יְסַדְתּֽוֹ׃
You, O ETERNAL One, are from everlasting;My holy God, YouhYou Heb. “we,” a change made by a pious scribe. never die.O ETERNAL One, You have made them a subject of contention;O Rock, You have made them a cause for complaint.
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13
טְה֤וֹר עֵינַ֙יִם֙ מֵרְא֣וֹת רָ֔ע וְהַבִּ֥יט אֶל־עָמָ֖ל לֹ֣א תוּכָ֑ל לָ֤מָּה תַבִּיט֙ בּֽוֹגְדִ֔ים תַּחֲרִ֕ישׁ בְּבַלַּ֥ע רָשָׁ֖ע צַדִּ֥יק מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
You whose eyes are too pure to look upon evil,Who cannot countenance wrongdoing,Why do You countenance treachery,And stand by idleWhile the one in the wrong devoursThe one in the right?
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14
וַתַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם כִּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם כְּרֶ֖מֶשׂ לֹא־מֹשֵׁ֥ל בּֽוֹ׃
You have made humankind like the fish of the sea,Like creeping things that have no ruler.ithat have no ruler 1QpHab “[for him] to rule over”; cf. Gen. 1.28; Ps. 8.7–9.
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15
כֻּלֹּה֙ בְּחַכָּ֣ה הֵֽעֲלָ֔ה יְגֹרֵ֣הוּ בְחֶרְמ֔וֹ וְיַאַסְפֵ֖הוּ בְּמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִשְׂמַ֥ח וְיָגִֽיל׃
He has fished them all up with a line,Pulled them up in his trawl,And gathered them in his net.That is why he rejoices and is glad.
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16
עַל־כֵּן֙ יְזַבֵּ֣חַ לְחֶרְמ֔וֹ וִֽיקַטֵּ֖ר לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י בָהֵ֙מָּה֙ שָׁמֵ֣ן חֶלְק֔וֹ וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹ בְּרִאָֽה׃
That is why he sacrifices to his trawlAnd makes offerings to his net;For through them his portionjportion Emendation yields “bread”; cf. Gen. 49.20. is richAnd his nourishment fat.
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17
הַ֥עַל כֵּ֖ן יָרִ֣יק חֶרְמ֑וֹ וְתָמִ֛יד לַהֲרֹ֥ג גּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יַחְמֽוֹל׃
Shall he then keep emptying his trawl,kemptying his trawl 1QpHab “drawing his sword.” And slaying nations without pity?
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Chapter 1 of 3
פֶּרֶק ב׳ The five woes against the wicked
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1
עַל־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י אֶֽעֱמֹ֔דָה וְאֶֽתְיַצְּבָ֖ה עַל־מָצ֑וֹר וַאֲצַפֶּ֗ה לִרְאוֹת֙ מַה־יְדַבֶּר־בִּ֔י וּמָ֥ה אָשִׁ֖יב עַל־תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃
I will stand on my watch,Take up my station at theathe 1QpHab reads “my.” post,And wait to see what [God] will say to me,bto me Or “through me”; cf. Num. 12.2. What will be the replycWhat will be the reply Taking ʼashib as equivalent to yashib. to my complaint.
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2
וַיַּעֲנֵ֤נִי יְהֹוָה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר כְּתֹ֣ב חָז֔וֹן וּבָאֵ֖ר עַל־הַלֻּח֑וֹת לְמַ֥עַן יָר֖וּץ ק֥וֹרֵא בֽוֹ׃
GOD answered me and said:Write the prophecy down,Inscribe it clearly on tablets,So that it can be read easily.
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3
כִּ֣י ע֤וֹד חָזוֹן֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֔ד וְיָפֵ֥חַ לַקֵּ֖ץ וְלֹ֣א יְכַזֵּ֑ב אִם־יִתְמַהְמָהּ֙ חַכֵּה־ל֔וֹ כִּי־בֹ֥א יָבֹ֖א לֹ֥א יְאַחֵֽר׃
For there is yet a prophecydthere is yet a prophecy Emendation yields “the prophecy is a witness.” for a set term,A truthful witness for a time that will come.Even if it tarries, wait for it still;For it will surely come, without delay:
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4
הִנֵּ֣ה עֻפְּלָ֔ה לֹא־יָשְׁרָ֥ה נַפְשׁ֖וֹ בּ֑וֹ וְצַדִּ֖יק בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ יִֽחְיֶֽה׃
Lo, their spirit within them is puffed up, not upright,ButeLo, their spirit within them is puffed up, not upright, / But Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “Lo, there is a reward for the upright— / the life breath within them— / And…” the righteous are rewarded with lifeFor their fidelity.
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5
וְאַף֙ כִּֽי־הַיַּ֣יִן בֹּגֵ֔ד גֶּ֥בֶר יָהִ֖יר וְלֹ֣א יִנְוֶ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֩ הִרְחִ֨יב כִּשְׁא֜וֹל נַפְשׁ֗וֹ וְה֤וּא כַמָּ֙וֶת֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׂבָּ֔ע וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף אֵלָיו֙ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץ אֵלָ֖יו כׇּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
How much less then shall the defiantfdefiant Connecting hyyn (1QpHab hwn) with the root hwn, Deut. 1.41; for the thought cf. Prov. 11.31. Meaning of rest of line uncertain. go unpunished,The treacherous, the arrogantWho have made their maw as wide as Sheol,Who are as insatiable as Death,Who have harvested all the nationsAnd gathered in all the peoples!
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6
הֲלוֹא־אֵ֣לֶּה כֻלָּ֗ם עָלָיו֙ מָשָׁ֣ל יִשָּׂ֔אוּ וּמְלִיצָ֖ה חִיד֣וֹת ל֑וֹ וְיֹאמַ֗ר ה֚וֹי הַמַּרְבֶּ֣ה לֹּא־ל֔וֹ עַד־מָתַ֕י וּמַכְבִּ֥יד עָלָ֖יו עַבְטִֽיט׃
Surely all these shall pronounce a satire against them,A pointed epigram concerning them.They shall say:Ah, you who pile up what is not yours—How much longer?—And make ever heavier your load of indebtedness!
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7
הֲל֣וֹא פֶ֗תַע יָק֙וּמוּ֙ נֹֽשְׁכֶ֔יךָ וְיִקְצ֖וּ מְזַעְזְעֶ֑יךָ וְהָיִ֥יתָ לִמְשִׁסּ֖וֹת לָֽמוֹ׃
Right suddenly will your creditorsgcreditors Lit. “usurers.” arise,And those who remindhremind Lit. “shake”; the same verb means “to call to mind” in Samaritan Aramaic. you will awake,And you will be despoiled by them.
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8
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה שַׁלּ֙וֹתָ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים יְשׇׁלּ֖וּךָ כׇּל־יֶ֣תֶר עַמִּ֑ים מִדְּמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ וַֽחֲמַס־אֶ֔רֶץ קִרְיָ֖ה וְכׇל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
Because you plundered many nations,All surviving peoples shall plunder you—For crimes against humans and wrongs against lands,Against cities and all their inhabitants.
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9
ה֗וֹי בֹּצֵ֛עַ בֶּ֥צַע רָ֖ע לְבֵית֑וֹ לָשׂ֤וּם בַּמָּרוֹם֙ קִנּ֔וֹ לְהִנָּצֵ֖ל מִכַּף־רָֽע׃
Ah, you who have acquired gainsTo the detriment of your own house,Who have destroyed many peoplesiWho have destroyed many peoples Moved up from v. 10 for clarity. In order to set your nest on highTo escape disaster!
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10
יָעַ֥צְתָּ בֹּ֖שֶׁת לְבֵיתֶ֑ךָ קְצוֹת־עַמִּ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים וְחוֹטֵ֥א נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
You have plotted shame for your own house,And guilt for yourself;
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11
כִּי־אֶ֖בֶן מִקִּ֣יר תִּזְעָ֑ק וְכָפִ֖יס מֵעֵ֥ץ יַעֲנֶֽנָּה׃
For a stone shall cry out from the wall,And a rafter shall answer it from the woodwork.
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12
ה֛וֹי בֹּנֶ֥ה עִ֖יר בְּדָמִ֑ים וְכוֹנֵ֥ן קִרְיָ֖ה בְּעַוְלָֽה׃
Ah, you who have built a town with crime,And established a city with infamy,
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13
הֲל֣וֹא הִנֵּ֔ה מֵאֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְיִֽיגְע֤וּ עַמִּים֙ בְּדֵי־אֵ֔שׁ וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים בְּדֵי־רִ֥יק יִעָֽפוּ׃
So that peoples have had to toil for the fire,jfor the fire I.e., without profit. And nations to weary themselves for naught!kConnection with the next four lines uncertain; they might read better after v. 20. Behold, it is from GOD of Hosts:
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14
כִּ֚י תִּמָּלֵ֣א הָאָ֔רֶץ לָדַ֖עַת אֶת־כְּב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּמַּ֖יִם יְכַסּ֥וּ עַל־יָֽם׃
For the earth shall be filledWith awe for GOD’s glory As water covers the sea.lFor the earth … the sea Cf. Isa. 11.9.
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15
ה֚וֹי מַשְׁקֵ֣ה רֵעֵ֔הוּ מְסַפֵּ֥חַ חֲמָתְךָ֖ וְאַ֣ף שַׁכֵּ֑ר לְמַ֥עַן הַבִּ֖יט עַל־מְעוֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
Ah, you who make others drink to intoxicationAs you pour outmAs you pour out Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “from the bowl of.” your wrath,In order to gaze upon their nakedness!nnakedness Cf. Gen. 9.21–22.
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16
שָׂבַ֤עְתָּ קָלוֹן֙ מִכָּב֔וֹד שְׁתֵ֥ה גַם־אַ֖תָּה וְהֵעָרֵ֑ל תִּסּ֣וֹב עָלֶ֗יךָ כּ֚וֹס יְמִ֣ין יְהֹוָ֔ה וְקִיקָל֖וֹן עַל־כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ׃
You shall be sated with shameRather than glory:Drink in your turn and stagger!ostagger Emendation yields “uncover yourself”; cf. Lam. 4.21. The cup in GOD’s right hand Shall come around to you,And disgrace topdisgrace to Or “vomit of disgrace upon.” your glory.
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17
כִּ֣י חֲמַ֤ס לְבָנוֹן֙ יְכַסֶּ֔ךָּ וְשֹׁ֥ד בְּהֵמ֖וֹת יְחִיתַ֑ן מִדְּמֵ֤י אָדָם֙ וַחֲמַס־אֶ֔רֶץ קִרְיָ֖ה וְכׇל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃
For the lawlessness against Lebanon shall cover you,The destruction of animals shall overwhelm youqFor the lawlessness … overwhelm you Meaning of Heb. uncertain.—For crimes against humans and wrongs against lands,Against cities and all their inhabitants.
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18
מָה־הוֹעִ֣יל פֶּ֗סֶל כִּ֤י פְסָלוֹ֙ יֹֽצְר֔וֹ מַסֵּכָ֖ה וּמ֣וֹרֶה שָּׁ֑קֶר כִּ֣י בָטַ֞ח יֹצֵ֤ר יִצְרוֹ֙ עָלָ֔יו לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֱלִילִ֥ים אִלְּמִֽים׃
rThis verse would read well after v. 19. What has the carved image availed,That its maker has carved itFor an image and a false oracle—That the one who makes an item has trusted in it,Producing dumb idols?
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19
ה֣וֹי אֹמֵ֤ר לָעֵץ֙ הָקִ֔יצָה ע֖וּרִי לְאֶ֣בֶן דּוּמָ֑ם ה֣וּא יוֹרֶ֔ה הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא תָּפוּשׂ֙ זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֔סֶף וְכׇל־ר֖וּחַ אֵ֥ין בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃
Ah, you who say, “Wake up” to wood,“Awaken,” to inert stone!Can that give an oracle?Why, it is encased in gold and silver,But there is no breath inside it.
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20
וַיהֹוָ֖ה בְּהֵיכַ֣ל קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ הַ֥ס מִפָּנָ֖יו כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
But GOD in the holy Abode—Be silent before [God], all the earth!
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Chapter 2 of 3
פֶּרֶק ג׳ Habakkuk's prayer and trust in God
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1
תְּפִלָּ֖ה לַחֲבַקּ֣וּק הַנָּבִ֑יא עַ֖ל שִׁגְיֹנֽוֹת׃
A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. In the mode of Shigionoth.aShigionoth Meaning uncertain; perhaps “psalms of supplication”; cf. Ps. 7.1.
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2
יְהֹוָ֗ה שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי שִׁמְעֲךָ֮ יָרֵ֒אתִי֒ יְהֹוָ֗ה פׇּֽעׇלְךָ֙ בְּקֶ֤רֶב שָׁנִים֙ חַיֵּ֔יהוּ בְּקֶ֥רֶב שָׁנִ֖ים תּוֹדִ֑יעַ בְּרֹ֖גֶז רַחֵ֥ם תִּזְכּֽוֹר׃
O ETERNAL One! I have learned of Your renown;I am awed, O ETERNAL One, by Your deeds.Renew them in these years,Oh, make them known in these years!Though angry, may You remember compassion.
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3
אֱל֙וֹהַּ֙ מִתֵּימָ֣ן יָב֔וֹא וְקָד֥וֹשׁ מֵהַר־פָּארָ֖ן סֶ֑לָה כִּסָּ֤ה שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ הוֹד֔וֹ וּתְהִלָּת֖וֹ מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃
God is coming from Teman,The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.bSelah A musical direction of uncertain meaning. God’s majesty covers the skies,Such splendor fills the earth:
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4
וְנֹ֙גַהּ֙ כָּא֣וֹר תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה קַרְנַ֥יִם מִיָּד֖וֹ ל֑וֹ וְשָׁ֖ם חֶבְי֥וֹן עֻזֹּֽה׃
cMeaning of verse uncertain. It is a brilliant lightThat gives off rays on every side—And therein God’s glory is enveloped.
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5
לְפָנָ֖יו יֵ֣לֶךְ דָּ֑בֶר וְיֵצֵ֥א רֶ֖שֶׁף לְרַגְלָֽיו׃
Pestilence marches in front,And plague comes forth at God’s heels.
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6
עָמַ֣ד׀ וַיְמֹ֣דֶד אֶ֗רֶץ רָאָה֙ וַיַּתֵּ֣ר גּוֹיִ֔ם וַיִּתְפֹּֽצְצוּ֙ הַרְרֵי־עַ֔ד שַׁח֖וּ גִּבְע֣וֹת עוֹלָ֑ם הֲלִיכ֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ם לֽוֹ׃
God’s standing up makes the earth shake;dshake Cf. Targum and Septuagint. A mere glance makes nations tremble.The age-old mountains are shattered,The primeval hills sink low.God’s routes are ancient:
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7
תַּ֣חַת אָ֔וֶן רָאִ֖יתִי אׇהֳלֵ֣י כוּשָׁ֑ן יִרְגְּז֕וּן יְרִיע֖וֹת אֶ֥רֶץ מִדְיָֽן׃
As a scene of havoc I beholdeGod’s routes … I behold Meaning of Heb. uncertain. The tents of Cushan;Shaken are the pavilionsOf the land of Midian!
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8
הֲבִנְהָרִים֙ חָרָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה אִ֤ם בַּנְּהָרִים֙ אַפֶּ֔ךָ אִם־בַּיָּ֖ם עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֤י תִרְכַּב֙ עַל־סוּסֶ֔יךָ מַרְכְּבֹתֶ֖יךָ יְשׁוּעָֽה׃
Are You wroth, O ETERNAL One, with Neharim?Is Your anger against Neharim,Your rage against YamfNeharim…Yam Neharim (lit. “Floods”) and Yam (lit. “Sea”) were marine monsters vanquished by GOD in hoary antiquity. On Yam see Ps. 74.13; Job 7.12. A being called both Yam and Nahar figures in early Canaanite literature.—That You are driving Your steeds,Your victorious chariot?
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9
עֶרְיָ֤ה תֵעוֹר֙ קַשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ שְׁבֻע֥וֹת מַטּ֖וֹת אֹ֣מֶר סֶ֑לָה נְהָר֖וֹת תְּבַקַּע־אָֽרֶץ׃
All bared and ready is Your bow.Sworn are the rods of the word.gSworn are the rods of the word Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Selah.You make the earth burst into streams,
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10
רָא֤וּךָ יָחִ֙ילוּ֙ הָרִ֔ים זֶ֥רֶם מַ֖יִם עָבָ֑ר נָתַ֤ן תְּהוֹם֙ קוֹל֔וֹ ר֖וֹם יָדֵ֥יהוּ נָשָֽׂא׃
The mountains rock at the sight of You,A torrent of rain comes down;Loud roars the deep,The sky returns the echo.hThe sky returns the echo Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
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11
שֶׁ֥מֶשׁ יָרֵ֖חַ עָ֣מַד זְבֻ֑לָה לְא֤וֹר חִצֶּ֙יךָ֙ יְהַלֵּ֔כוּ לְנֹ֖גַהּ בְּרַ֥ק חֲנִיתֶֽךָ׃
Sun [and] moon stand still on highAs Your arrows fly in brightness,Your flashing spear in brilliance.
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12
בְּזַ֖עַם תִּצְעַד־אָ֑רֶץ בְּאַ֖ף תָּד֥וּשׁ גּוֹיִֽם׃
You tread the earth in rage,You trample nations in fury.
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13
יָצָ֙אתָ֙ לְיֵ֣שַׁע עַמֶּ֔ךָ לְיֵ֖שַׁע אֶת־מְשִׁיחֶ֑ךָ מָחַ֤צְתָּ רֹּאשׁ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית רָשָׁ֔ע עָר֛וֹת יְס֥וֹד עַד־צַוָּ֖אר סֶֽלָה׃
You have come forth to deliver Your people,To deliver Your anointed.iYour anointed I.e., the king of Judah. You will smash the roof of the villain’s house,Raze it from foundation to top. Selah.
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14
נָקַ֤בְתָּ בְמַטָּיו֙ רֹ֣אשׁ פְּרָזָ֔ו יִסְעֲר֖וּ לַהֲפִיצֵ֑נִי עֲלִ֣יצֻתָ֔ם כְּמוֹ־לֶאֱכֹ֥ל עָנִ֖י בַּמִּסְתָּֽר׃
You will crack [the enemy’s] skull with YourjYour Heb. 3rd person. bludgeon;Blown away shall be his warriors,Whose delight is to crush me suddenly,To devour a pauper in an ambush.kYou will smash … in an ambush Emendation yields: “You will strike the heads of evildoers, / Smash the pates of Your adversaries. Selah. / You will crack their skulls with Your bludgeon; / Dispersed, blown like chaff shall be they / Who lie in wait to swallow the innocent, / To devour the poor in an ambush.”
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15
דָּרַ֥כְתָּ בַיָּ֖ם סוּסֶ֑יךָ חֹ֖מֶר מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
You will make Your steeds tread the sea,Stirring the mighty waters.
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16
שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי׀ וַתִּרְגַּ֣ז בִּטְנִ֗י לְקוֹל֙ צָלְל֣וּ שְׂפָתַ֔י יָב֥וֹא רָקָ֛ב בַּעֲצָמַ֖י וְתַחְתַּ֣י אֶרְגָּ֑ז אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָנ֙וּחַ֙ לְי֣וֹם צָרָ֔ה לַעֲל֖וֹת לְעַ֥ם יְגוּדֶֽנּוּ׃
I heard and my bowels quaked,My lips quivered at the sound;Rot entered into my bone,I trembled where I stood.Yet I wait calmly for the day of distress,For a people to come to attack us.
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17
כִּֽי־תְאֵנָ֣ה לֹֽא־תִפְרָ֗ח וְאֵ֤ין יְבוּל֙ בַּגְּפָנִ֔ים כִּחֵשׁ֙ מַֽעֲשֵׂה־זַ֔יִת וּשְׁדֵמ֖וֹת לֹא־עָ֣שָׂה אֹ֑כֶל גָּזַ֤ר מִמִּכְלָה֙ צֹ֔אן וְאֵ֥ין בָּקָ֖ר בָּרְפָתִֽים׃
Though the fig tree does not budAnd no yield is on the vine,Though the olive crop has failedAnd the fields produce no grain,Though sheep have vanished from the foldAnd no cattle are in the pen,lOr: 15“You will make Your steeds tread the sea, / Stirring the mighty waters, / 16That I may have rest on a day of distress, / When a people come up to attack us. / But this report made my bowels quake, / These tidings made my lips quiver; / Rot entered into my bone, / I trembled where I stood: / 17That the fig tree does not bud, / And no yield is on the vine; / The olive crop has failed, / And the fields produce no grain; / The sheep have vanished from the fold, / And no cattle are in the pen.”
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18
וַאֲנִ֖י בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֶעְל֑וֹזָה אָגִ֖ילָה בֵּאלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃
Yet will I rejoice in GOD,Exult in the God who delivers me.
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19
יֱהֹוִ֤ה אֲדֹנָי֙ חֵילִ֔י וַיָּ֤שֶׂם רַגְלַי֙ כָּאַיָּל֔וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּמוֹתַ֖י יַדְרִכֵ֑נִי לַמְנַצֵּ֖חַ בִּנְגִינוֹתָֽי׃
The Sovereign GOD is my strength,Making my feet like the deer’sAnd letting me stride upon the heights.For the leader; with instrumental music.mFor the leader; with instrumental music Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
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Chapter 3 of 3