Habakkuk 2:8

2:8 Because you robbed many countries, ¹ 

all who are left among the nations ²  will rob you.

You have shed human blood

and committed violent acts against lands, cities, ³  and those who live in them.

Habakkuk 3:6

3:6 He takes his battle position ⁴  and shakes ⁵  the earth;

with a mere look he frightens ⁶  the nations.

The ancient mountains disintegrate; ⁷ 

the primeval hills are flattened.

He travels on the ancient roads. ⁸ 

[2:8]  ¹ tn Or “nations.”

[2:8]  ² tn Or “peoples.”

[2:8]  ³ tn Heb “because of the shed blood of humankind and violence against land, city.” The singular forms אֶרֶץ (’erets, “land”) and קִרְיָה (qiryah, “city”) are collective, referring to all the lands and cities terrorized by the Babylonians.

[3:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “he stands.”

[3:6]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “makes [the nations] jump [in fear].”

[3:6]  ⁷ tn Or “crumbled,” broke into pieces.”

[3:6]  ⁸ 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.