Micah 1
1The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth† during the reigns of Jotham,† Ahaz† and Hezekiah, kings of Judah† —the vision† he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2Hear, O peoples, all of you,†
listen, O earth† and all who are in it,
that the Sovereign LORD may witness† against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.†
Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem
3Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling† place;
he comes down and treads the high places of the earth.†
4The mountains melt† beneath him
and the valleys split apart,†
like wax before the fire,
like water rushing down a slope.
5All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,
because of the sins of the house of Israel.
What is Jacob’s transgression?
Is it not Samaria?†
What is Judah’s high place?
Is it not Jerusalem?
6“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,
a place for planting vineyards.
I will pour her stones† into the valley
and lay bare her foundations.†
7All her idols† will be broken to pieces;
all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;
I will destroy all her images.†
Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,†
as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”
Weeping and Mourning
8Because of this I will weep† and wail;
I will go about barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal
and moan like an owl.
9For her wound† is incurable;
it has come to Judah.†
It[1] has reached the very gate† of my people,
even to Jerusalem itself.
10Tell it not in Gath[2];
weep not at all.[3]
In Beth Ophrah[4]
roll in the dust.
11Pass on in nakedness† and shame,
you who live in Shaphir.[5]
Those who live in Zaanan[6]
will not come out.
Beth Ezel is in mourning;
its protection is taken from you.
12Those who live in Maroth[7] writhe in pain,
waiting for relief,†
because disaster has come from the LORD,
even to the gate of Jerusalem.
13You who live in Lachish,[8] †
harness the team to the chariot.
You were the beginning of sin
to the Daughter of Zion,
for the transgressions of Israel
were found in you.
14Therefore you will give parting gifts†
to Moresheth Gath.
The town of Aczib[9] † will prove deceptive†
to the kings of Israel.
15I will bring a conqueror against you
who live in Mareshah.[10] †
He who is the glory of Israel
will come to Adullam.†
16Shave† your heads in mourning
for the children in whom you delight;
make yourselves as bald as the vulture,
for they will go from you into exile.
Micah 2
Man’s Plans and God’s
1Woe to those who plan iniquity,
to those who plot evil on their beds!†
At morning’s light they carry it out
because it is in their power to do it.
2They covet fields† and seize them,
and houses, and take them.
They defraud† a man of his home,
a fellowman of his inheritance.
3Therefore, the LORD says:
“I am planning disaster† against this people,
from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,†
for it will be a time of calamity.
4In that day men will ridicule you;
they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;†
my people’s possession is divided up.
He takes it from me!
He assigns our fields to traitors.’ ”
5Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD
to divide the land† by lot.
False Prophets
6“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
“Do not prophesy about these things;
disgrace† will not overtake us.† ”
7Should it be said, O house of Jacob:
“Is the Spirit of the LORD angry?
Does he do such things?”
“Do not my words do good†
to him whose ways are upright?†
8Lately my people have risen up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by without a care,
like men returning from battle.
9You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.†
You take away my blessing
from their children forever.
10Get up, go away!
For this is not your resting place,†
because it is defiled,†
it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11If a liar and deceiver† comes and says,
‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
he would be just the prophet for this people!†
Deliverance Promised
12“I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob;
I will surely bring together the remnant† of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.
13One who breaks open the way will go up before† them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their king will pass through before them,
the LORD at their head.”
Micah 3
Leaders and Prophets Rebuked
1Then I said,
“Listen, you leaders† of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel.
Should you not know justice,
2you who hate good and love evil;
who tear the skin from my people
and the flesh from their bones;†
3who eat my people’s flesh,†
strip off their skin
and break their bones in pieces;†
who chop them up like meat for the pan,
like flesh for the pot?† ”
4Then they will cry out to the LORD,
but he will not answer them.†
At that time he will hide his face† from them
because of the evil they have done.
5This is what the LORD says:
“As for the prophets
who lead my people astray,†
if one feeds them,
they proclaim ‘peace’;
if he does not,
they prepare to wage war against him.
6Therefore night will come over you, without visions,
and darkness, without divination.†
The sun will set for the prophets,†
and the day will go dark for them.
7The seers will be ashamed†
and the diviners disgraced.†
They will all cover their faces
because there is no answer from God.”
8But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the LORD,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin.†
9Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob,
you rulers of the house of Israel,
who despise justice
and distort all that is right;†
10who build† Zion with bloodshed,†
and Jerusalem with wickedness.†
11Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.†
Yet they lean upon the LORD and say,
“Is not the LORD among us?
No disaster will come upon us.Ӡ
12Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,†
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
Micah 4
The Mountain of the LORD
1In the last days
the mountain† of the LORD ’s temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,†
and peoples will stream to it.†
2Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,†
to the house of the God of Jacob.†
He will teach us his ways,†
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3He will judge between many peoples
and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.†
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.†
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.†
4Every man will sit under his own vine
and under his own fig tree,†
and no one will make them afraid,†
for the LORD Almighty has spoken.†
5All the nations may walk
in the name of their gods;†
we will walk in the name of the LORD
our God for ever and ever.†
The LORD ’s Plan
6“In that day,” declares the LORD,
“I will gather the lame;
I will assemble the exiles†
and those I have brought to grief.†
7I will make the lame a remnant,†
those driven away a strong nation.
The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion
from that day and forever.†
8As for you, O watchtower of the flock,
O stronghold[11] of the Daughter of Zion,
the former dominion will be restored† to you;
kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
9Why do you now cry aloud —
have you no king?†
Has your counselor perished,
that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?†
10Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion,
like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;†
there you will be rescued.
There the LORD will redeem† you
out of the hand of your enemies.
11But now many nations
are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
let our eyes gloat† over Zion!”
12But they do not know
the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,†
he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13“Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,
for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hoofs of bronze
and you will break to pieces many nations.Ӡ
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD,
their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
Micah 5
A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem
1Marshal your troops, O city of troops,[12]
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek† with a rod.
2“But you, Bethlehem† Ephrathah,†
though you are small among the clans[13] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins[14] are from of old,†
from ancient times.[15] Ӡ
3Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4He will stand and shepherd his flock†
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness†
will reach to the ends of the earth.
5And he will be their peace.†
Deliverance and Destruction
When the Assyrian invades† our land
and marches through our fortresses,
we will raise against him seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.†
6They will rule[16] the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod† with drawn sword.[17] †
He will deliver us from the Assyrian
when he invades our land
and marches into our borders.†
7The remnant† of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,†
which do not wait for man
or linger for mankind.
8The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,†
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles† as it goes,
and no one can rescue.†
9Your hand will be lifted up† in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed.
10“In that day,” declares the LORD,
“I will destroy your horses from among you
and demolish your chariots.†
11I will destroy the cities† of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.†
12I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.†
13I will destroy your carved images
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.†
14I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles[18] †
and demolish your cities.
15I will take vengeance† in anger and wrath
upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”
Micah 6
The LORD ’s Case Against Israel
1Listen to what the LORD says:
“Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;†
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2Hear,† O mountains, the LORD ’s accusation;†
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge† against Israel.
3 “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened† you? Answer me.
4I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.†
I sent Moses† to lead you,
also Aaron† and Miriam.†
5My people, remember
what Balak† king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember [ your journey] from Shittim† to Gilgal,†
that you may know the righteous acts† of the LORD.”
6With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?†
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,†
with ten thousand rivers of oil?†
Shall I offer my firstborn† for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?†
8He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly† and to love mercy
and to walk humbly† with your God.†
Israel’s Guilt and Punishment
9Listen! The LORD is calling to the city—
and to fear your name is wisdom—
“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.[19]
10Am I still to forget, O wicked house,
your ill-gotten treasures
and the short ephah,[20] which is accursed?†
11Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales,†
with a bag of false weights?
12Her rich men are violent;†
her people are liars†
and their tongues speak deceitfully.†
13Therefore, I have begun to destroy† you,
to ruin you because of your sins.
14You will eat but not be satisfied;†
your stomach will still be empty.[21]
You will store up but save nothing,†
because what you save I will give to the sword.
15You will plant but not harvest;†
you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.†
16You have observed the statutes of Omri†
and all the practices of Ahab’s† house,
and you have followed their traditions.†
Therefore I will give you over to ruin†
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn† of the nations.[22] ”
Micah 7
Israel’s Misery
1What misery is mine!
I am like one who gathers summer fruit
at the gleaning of the vineyard;
there is no cluster of grapes to eat,
none of the early figs that I crave.
2The godly have been swept from the land;†
not one upright man remains.
All men lie in wait to shed blood;†
each hunts his brother with a net.†
3Both hands are skilled in doing evil;†
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.
4The best of them is like a brier,†
the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchmen has come,
the day God visits you.
Now is the time of their confusion.†
5Do not trust a neighbor;
put no confidence in a friend.†
Even with her who lies in your embrace
be careful of your words.
6For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises up against her mother,†
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.†
7But as for me, I watch in hope† for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear† me.
Israel Will Rise
8Do not gloat over me,† my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.†
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.†
9Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the LORD ’s wrath,†
until he pleads my case
and establishes my right.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.†
10Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame,†
she who said to me,
“Where is the LORD your God?”
My eyes will see her downfall;†
even now she will be trampled† underfoot
like mire in the streets.
11The day for building your walls† will come,
the day for extending your boundaries.
12In that day people will come to you
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
even from Egypt to the Euphrates
and from sea to sea
and from mountain to mountain.†
13The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants,
as the result of their deeds.†
Prayer and Praise
14Shepherd† your people with your staff,†
the flock of your inheritance,
which lives by itself in a forest,
in fertile pasturelands.[23]
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead†
as in days long ago.
15“As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
I will show them my wonders.† ”
16Nations will see and be ashamed,†
deprived of all their power.
They will lay their hands on their mouths
and their ears will become deaf.
17They will lick dust like a snake,
like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling out of their dens;
they will turn in fear† to the LORD our God
and will be afraid of you.
18Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin† and forgives† the transgression
of the remnant† of his inheritance?†
You do not stay angry† forever
but delight to show mercy.†
19You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities† into the depths of the sea.†
20You will be true to Jacob,
and show mercy to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our fathers†
in days long ago.
Nahum 1
1An oracle† concerning Nineveh.† The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
The LORD ’s Anger Against Nineveh
2The LORD is a jealous† and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance† and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
3The LORD is slow to anger† and great in power;
the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.†
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds† are the dust of his feet.
4He rebukes the sea and dries it up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel† wither
and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5The mountains quake† before him
and the hills melt away.†
The earth trembles at his presence,
the world and all who live in it.
6Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure† his fierce anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;†
the rocks are shattered† before him.
7The LORD is good,†
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for† those who trust in him,
8but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of [Nineveh];
he will pursue his foes into darkness.
9Whatever they plot against the LORD
he[1] will bring to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.
10They will be entangled among thorns†
and drunk from their wine;
they will be consumed like dry stubble.[2] †
11From you, [O Nineveh, ] has one come forth
who plots evil against the LORD
and counsels wickedness.
12This is what the LORD says:
“Although they have allies and are numerous,
they will be cut off† and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, [O Judah, ]
I will afflict you no more.†
13Now I will break their yoke† from your neck
and tear your shackles away.”
14The LORD has given a command concerning you, [Nineveh]:
“You will have no descendants to bear your name.†
I will destroy the carved images† and cast idols
that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,†
for you are vile.”
15Look, there on the mountains,
the feet of one who brings good news,†
who proclaims peace!†
Celebrate your festivals,† O Judah,
and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;†
they will be completely destroyed.
Nahum 2
Nineveh to Fall
1An attacker† advances against you, [Nineveh].
Guard the fortress,
watch the road,
brace yourselves,
marshal all your strength!
2The LORD will restore† the splendor† of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
3The shields of his soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.†
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of pine are brandished.[3]
4The chariots† storm through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning.
5He summons his picked troops,
yet they stumble† on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
the protective shield is put in place.
6The river gates† are thrown open
and the palace collapses.
7It is decreed[4] that [the city]
be exiled and carried away.
Its slave girls moan† like doves
and beat upon their breasts.†
8Nineveh is like a pool,
and its water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
but no one turns back.
9Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
the wealth from all its treasures!
10She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
Hearts melt, knees give way,
bodies tremble, every face grows pale.†
11Where now is the lions’ den,†
the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
12The lion killed† enough for his cubs
and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs with the kill
and his dens with the prey.
13“I am against† you,”
declares the LORD Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,†
and the sword will devour your young lions.
I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.”
Nahum 3
Woe to Nineveh
1Woe to the city of blood,†
full of lies,
full of plunder,
never without victims!
2The crack of whips,
the clatter of wheels,
galloping horses
and jolting chariots!
3Charging cavalry,
flashing swords
and glittering spears!
Many casualties,
piles of dead,
bodies without number,
people stumbling over the corpses† —
4all because of the wanton lust of a harlot,
alluring, the mistress of sorceries,†
who enslaved nations by her prostitution†
and peoples by her witchcraft.
5“I am against† you,” declares the LORD Almighty.
“I will lift your skirts† over your face.
I will show the nations your nakedness†
and the kingdoms your shame.
6I will pelt you with filth,†
I will treat you with contempt†
and make you a spectacle.†
7All who see you will flee from you and say,
‘Nineveh† is in ruins—who will mourn for her?’†
Where can I find anyone to comfort† you?”
8Are you better than† Thebes,[5] †
situated on the Nile,†
with water around her?
The river was her defense,
the waters her wall.
9Cush[6] † and Egypt were her boundless strength;
Put† and Libya† were among her allies.
10Yet she was taken captive†
and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed† to pieces
at the head of every street.
Lots were cast for her nobles,
and all her great men were put in chains.
11You too will become drunk;†
you will go into hiding†
and seek refuge from the enemy.
12All your fortresses are like fig trees
with their first ripe fruit;
when they are shaken,
the figs† fall into the mouth of the eater.
13Look at your troops—
they are all women!†
The gates† of your land
are wide open to your enemies;
fire has consumed their bars.†
14Draw water for the siege,†
strengthen your defenses!†
Work the clay,
tread the mortar,
repair the brickwork!
15There the fire will devour you;
the sword will cut you down
and, like grasshoppers, consume you.
Multiply like grasshoppers,
multiply like locusts!†
16You have increased the number of your merchants
till they are more than the stars of the sky,
but like locusts they strip the land
and then fly away.
17Your guards are like locusts,†
your officials like swarms of locusts
that settle in the walls on a cold day—
but when the sun appears they fly away,
and no one knows where.
18O king of Assyria, your shepherds[7] slumber;†
your nobles lie down to rest.†
Your people are scattered† on the mountains
with no one to gather them.
19Nothing can heal your wound;†
your injury is fatal.
Everyone who hears the news about you
claps his hands† at your fall,
for who has not felt
your endless cruelty?
Habakkuk 1
1The oracle† that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk’s Complaint
2How long, O LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?†
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?†
3Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate† wrong?
Destruction and violence† are before me;
there is strife,† and conflict abounds.
4Therefore the law† is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.†
The LORD ’s Answer
5“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.†
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.†
6I am raising up the Babylonians,[1] †
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwelling places not their own.†
7They are a feared and dreaded people;†
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
8Their horses are swifter† than leopards,
fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like a vulture swooping to devour;
9they all come bent on violence.
Their hordes[2] advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners† like sand.
10They deride kings
and scoff at rulers.†
They laugh at all fortified cities;
they build earthen ramps and capture them.
11Then they sweep past like the wind† and go on—
guilty men, whose own strength is their god.Ӡ
Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
12O LORD, are you not from everlasting?
My God, my Holy One,† we will not die.
O LORD, you have appointed† them to execute judgment;
O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.
13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrong.†
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14You have made men like fish in the sea,
like sea creatures that have no ruler.
15The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,†
he catches them in his net,†
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
16Therefore he sacrifices to his net
and burns incense† to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
and enjoys the choicest food.
17Is he to keep on emptying his net,
destroying nations without mercy?†
Habakkuk 2
1I will stand at my watch†
and station myself on the ramparts;†
I will look to see what he will say† to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[3] †
The LORD ’s Answer
2Then the LORD replied:
“Write† down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[4] may run with it.
3For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end†
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait† for it;
it[5] will certainly come and will not delay.†
4“See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous will live by his faith[6] † —
5indeed, wine† betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave[7]
and like death is never satisfied,†
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
6“Will not all of them taunt† him with ridicule and scorn, saying,
“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!†
How long must this go on?’
7Will not your debtors[8] suddenly arise?
Will they not wake up and make you tremble?
Then you will become their victim.†
8Because you have plundered many nations,
the peoples who are left will plunder you.†
For you have shed man’s blood;†
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
9“Woe to him who builds† his realm by unjust gain
to set his nest on high,
to escape the clutches of ruin!
10You have plotted the ruin† of many peoples,
shaming† your own house and forfeiting your life.
11The stones† of the wall will cry out,
and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
12“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed†
and establishes a town by crime!
13Has not the LORD Almighty determined
that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,†
that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?†
14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory† of the LORD,
as the waters cover the sea.†
15“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,
so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.
16You will be filled with shame† instead of glory.
Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed[9]!†
The cup† from the LORD ’s right hand is coming around to you,
and disgrace will cover your glory.
17The violence† you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,
and your destruction of animals will terrify you.†
For you have shed man’s blood;†
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
18“Of what value is an idol,† since a man has carved it?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For he who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.†
19Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’†
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;†
there is no breath in it.
20But the LORD is in his holy temple;†
let all the earth be silent† before him.”
Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.[10]
2LORD, I have heard† of your fame;
I stand in awe† of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew† them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.†
3God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah[11]
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth.†
4His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
5Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
6He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed.†
His ways are eternal.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian† in anguish.†
8Were you angry with the rivers,† O LORD?
Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
when you rode with your horses
and your victorious chariots?†
9You uncovered your bow,
you called for many arrows.† Selah
You split the earth with rivers;
10the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
the deep roared†
