Habakkuk 1:2

1:2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?

But you do not listen!

I call out to you, “Violence!”

But you do not intervene! ¹ 

Habakkuk 1:6

1:6 Look, I am about to empower ²  the Babylonians,

that ruthless ³  and greedy ⁴  nation.

They sweep across the surface ⁵  of the earth,

seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.

Habakkuk 3:8

3:8 Is the Lord mad at the rivers?

Are you angry with the rivers?

Are you enraged at the sea? ⁶ 

Is this why ⁷  you climb into your horse-drawn chariots, ⁸ 

your victorious chariots? ⁹ 

[1:2]  ¹ tn Or “deliver.”

[1:6]  ² tn Heb “raise up” (so KJV, ASV).

[1:6]  ³ tn Heb “bitter.” Other translation options for this word in this context include “fierce” (NASB, NRSV); “savage” (NEB); or “grim.”

[1:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “hasty, quick.” Some translate here “impetuous” (so NEB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “rash,” but in this context greed may very well be the idea. The Babylonians move quickly and recklessly ahead in their greedy quest to expand their empire.

[1:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “the open spaces.”

[3:8]  ³ sn The following context suggests these questions should be answered, “Yes.” The rivers and the sea, symbolizing here the hostile nations (v. 12), are objects of the Lord’s anger (vv. 10, 15).

[3:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “so that.” Here כִּי (ki) is resultative. See the note on the phrase “make it” in 2:18.

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “you mount your horses.” As the next line makes clear, the Lord is pictured here as a charioteer, not a cavalryman. Note NRSV here, “when you drove your horses, // your chariots to victory.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Or “chariots of deliverance.”