habakkuk 1 through 3

Read Habakkuk 1 through 3 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Hab 1:1-17 {s} Habakkuk’s question + YHVH’s answer: Why do the wicked prosper? I am bringing judgment upon them
Hab 2:1-4 {s} I will watch + wait for the answer from YHVH: the just shall live by faith
Hab 2:5-8 {p} First woe against Babylon: because you have plundered many nations, the remnant shall plunder you
Hab 2:9-11 {p} Second woe against Babylon: because you give shameful counsel, the stones + timbers of your house shall cry against you
Hab 2:12-14 {p} Third woe against Babylon: because you established your city on bloodshed, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHVH as the waters cover the seas
Hab 2:15-18 {s} Fourth woe against Babylon: because you made drunk with your intoxicating wine, you will drink the cup of YHVH’s wrath
Hab 2:19-20 {s} Fifth woe against Babylon: because you spoke life to vain idols, YHVH is in His holy temple, and the earth will keep silence before Him
Hab 3:1-13 {p} YHVH, revive Your work + the coming of His army in wrath, for the salvation of His people
Hab 3:14-19 {p} I will wait and rejoice in God of my salvation

Hab 1-3 chiastic structure:

1a) Hab 1:1, The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw (introduction);

1b) Hab 1:2-4, Habakuk: Why do I cry and You do not hear? Why do I see trouble, and You do not save?;

1c) Hab 1:5-11, YHVH answers: I am working My work + raising up the army of the Chaldaeans;

1) Hab 1:5, Be astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe;
2) Hab 1:6-11, I am raising up the great + powerful army of the Chaldaeans who none can withstand;

1d) Hab 1:12-17 {s} Habakkuk: Why do You allow the wicked nation to swallow up those more righteous than he?;

1e) Hab 2:1-4a, YHVH: Though the vision tarries, it will surely come: Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him;

central axis) Hab 2:4b {s} YHVH: But the just shall live by his faith;

2e) Hab 2:5, YHVH: He is proud + covetous, not satisfied, like hell + death/ gathers to himself all nations + peoples;

2d) Hab 2:6-20 {px3+s+s} YHVH: Five woes which will come upon the wicked nation because of their wickedness;

1) Hab 2:6-8 {p} Woe to him who increases what is not his: the remnant shall plunder you;
2) Hab 2:9-11 {p} Woe to him who does evil to be immune from disaster: stone + timber will cry out against you;
3) Hab 2:12-14 {p} Woe to him who builds a city by iniquity: the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHVH, as the waters cover the sea;
4) Hab 2:15-18 {s} Woe to him who makes his neighbor drunk: you will drink from the cup in YHVH’s right hand;
5) Hab 2:19-20 {s} Woe to him who says to vain idols, ‘Awake!’ Arise! It shall teach!’: YHVH is in His holy temple – Let all the earth keep silence before Him;

2c) Hab 3:1-15, YHVH, revive Your work + the coming of His army in wrath, for the salvation of His people;

1) Hab 3:1-2, Habakkuk: YHVH revive Your work + make it known; in wrath remember mercy;
2) Hab 3:3-15, YHVH’s great + powerful army, greater than the armies of men;

1a) Hab 3:3-13 {p} YHVH’s wrath against the sea, that He rode on His horses, bringing salvation;

1a) Hab 3:3, God came from Teman + Mt Paran/ His glory covering the heavens + the earth filling with His praise;
1b) Hab 3:4-5, His brightness, light, flashing rays + power/ pestilence, fever, measured the earth + startled the nations;
1c) Hab 3:6-7, Everlasting mountains + hills scattered, for only His ways are everlasting/ Cush trembled;
central axis) Hab 3:8-9, O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, was Your anger against the rivers, was Your wrath against the sea, that You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? Your bow was made quite ready; oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers;
2c) Hab 3:10-11a, Mountains trembled; deep uttered its voice, lifted its hands; sun + moon stood still;
2b) Hab 3:11b-12, Light, shining of His arrows + glittering spear/ in anger marched through the land + trampled the nations;
2a) Hab 3:13 {p} YHVH went forth to save His people with His Messiah/ He struck the head from the wicked;

1b) Hab 3:14a, You thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villages;
2b) Hab 3:14b, They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret;
2a) Hab 3:15, You walked through the sea with Your horses, through the heap of great waters;

2b) Hab 3:16-19a, When I heard, I trembled; I will wait + rejoice in the God of my salvation;

2a) Hab 3:19b {p} To the Chief Musician, with my stringed instruments (conclusion).