Habakuk 3:6

3:6 He takes his battle position ¹  and shakes ²  the earth;

with a mere look he frightens ³  the nations.

The ancient mountains disintegrate; ⁴ 

the primeval hills are flattened.

He travels on the ancient roads. ⁵ 

Habakuk 3:19

3:19 The sovereign Lord is my source of strength. ⁶ 

He gives me the agility of a deer; ⁷ 

he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. ⁸ 

(This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.) ⁹ 

[3:6]  ¹ tn Heb “he stands.”

[3:6]  ² tn This verb has been traditionally understood as “measure” (from מוּד, mud), but the immediately following context (vv. 6b-7) favors the meaning “shake” from מָוד (mavd; see HALOT 555 s.v.).

[3:6]  ³ tn Heb “makes [the nations] jump [in fear].”

[3:6]  ⁴ tn Or “crumbled,” broke into pieces.”

[3:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “ancient ways [or, “doings”] are his.” The meaning of this line is unclear. Traditionally it has been translated, “his ways are eternal.” However, in this context (see vv. 3, 7) it is more likely that the line speaks of the Lord taking the same route as in the days of Moses and Deborah (see Deut 33:2; Judg 5:4). See J. J. M. Roberts, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah (OTL), 154.

[3:19]  ⁶ tn Or perhaps, “is my wall,” that is, “my protector.”

[3:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “he makes my feet like those of deer.”

[3:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “he makes me walk on my high places.”

[3:19]  sn Difficult times are coming, but Habakkuk is confident the Lord will sustain him. Habakkuk will be able to survive, just as the deer negotiates the difficult rugged terrain of the high places without injury.

[3:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “For the leader, on my stringed instruments.”