Habakkuk 1:1

Habakkuk Complains to the Lord

1:1 The following is the message ¹  which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet: ² 

Habakkuk 3:19

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

He gives me the agility of a deer; ⁴ 

he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. ⁵ 

(This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.) ⁶ 

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¹ tn Heb “The burden” (so KJV, ASV). The Hebrew term מַשָּׂא (masa’), usually translated “oracle” (NAB, NEB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “utterance” (BDB 672 s.v. III מַשָּׂא), in prophetic literature is a technical term introducing a message from the Lord (see Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Since it derives from a verb meaning “to carry,” its original nuance was that of a burdensome message, that is, one with ominous content.

² tn Heb “The message [traditionally, “burden”] which Habakkuk the prophet saw.”

³ tn Or perhaps, “is my wall,” that is, “my protector.”

⁴ tn Heb “he makes my feet like those of deer.”

⁵ tn Heb “he makes me walk on my high places.”

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.

⁶ tn Heb “For the leader, on my stringed instruments.”