HAB (Habakkuk)
HAB.1 • HAB.2 • HAB.3
HAB.1
[HAB.1.1] The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. [§]
Ha massa asher chazah Chavakkuk ha navi.
'Ha' means 'the', 'massa' means 'burden' or 'oracle', 'asher' means 'that', 'chazah' means 'saw', 'Chavakkuk' is the name of the prophet, 'ha' means 'the', 'navi' means 'prophet'.
[HAB.1.2] How long, Yahveh, my weariness, and you will not hear; I will cry out to you in violence and you will not save. [§]
ad-ana Yahveh shiva'ti velo tishma ez'ak eilekha chamas velo toshi'a.
'ad-ana' means 'how long' or 'until when', 'Yahveh' is the literal rendering of YHVH, 'shiva'ti' means 'my weariness', 'velo' means 'and not', 'tishma' means 'you will hear/listen', 'ez'ak' means 'I will cry out', 'eilekha' means 'to you', 'chamas' means 'violence', 'tosi'a' means 'you will save'.
[HAB.1.3] Why do you show me iniquity and toil, you look at robbery and violence before me, and there was strife and oppression that will be raised. [§]
Lamah tare'eni aven ve'omal tavit ve'shod ve'chemas lenegdei vayhi riv umadon yissa.
'Lamah' means 'why', 'tare'eni' means 'you show me', 'aven' means 'iniquity', 've'omal' means 'and toil', 'tavit' means 'you look', 've'shod' means 'and robbery', 've'chemas' means 'and violence', 'lenegdei' means 'before me', 'vayhi' means 'and it was', 'riv' means 'strife', 'umadon' means 'and oppression', 'yissa' means 'will be raised'.
[HAB.1.4] Therefore the law shall be nullified and shall not depart forever from judgment, because the wicked records the righteous; therefore judgment goes out perverted. [§]
Al-ken taphug Torah ve-lo yetse la-nesach mishpat ki rasha maktir et ha-tzaddik al-ken yetse mishpat meukal.
'Al-ken' means 'therefore' or 'for this reason'. 'taphug' is a verb meaning 'to be removed, to be nullified, to become void'. 'Torah' means 'law' or 'teaching'. 've-lo' means 'and not' or 'and shall not'. 'yetse' means 'to go out' or 'to depart'. 'la-nesach' means 'forever' or 'for ever'. 'mishpat' means 'judgment' or 'justice'. 'ki' means 'because' or 'for'. 'rasha' means 'wicked one' or 'evildoer'. 'maktir' means 'writes down' or 'records'. 'et' is the direct object marker. 'ha-tzaddik' means 'the righteous one'. The second occurrence of 'al-ken' repeats 'therefore'. 'yetse' again means 'goes out' or 'issues'. 'mishpat' again 'judgment'. 'meukal' means 'crooked', 'perverted' or 'distorted'.
[HAB.1.5] See the nations and look, and be amazed at its perfection, for a work that works in your days you will not believe, because it will be recorded. [§]
Reu bagoyim vehabitu vehitammehu temahu ki po'al po'el bimeikhem lo ta'aminu ki yesuppar.
'Reu' means 'see' (imperative plural), 'bagoyim' means 'among the nations', 'vehabitu' means 'and look', 'vehitammehu' means 'and be amazed', 'temahu' means 'its perfection' or 'its completeness', 'ki' means 'for' or 'because', 'po'al' means 'a work' or 'act', 'po'el' means 'one who works' or 'doer', 'bimeikhem' means 'in your days', 'lo' means 'not', 'ta'aminu' means 'you will believe', 'ki' again means 'because', 'yesuppar' means 'it will be counted' or 'it will be recorded'.
[HAB.1.6] Because here I am raising the Kassites, the bitter nation and the Nimhar who walks over the expanses of the earth to inherit dwelling places not belonging to him. [§]
ki hineni mikims et hakashdim hagoy hamar vehanimhar haholekh lemerchavei eretz lareshet mishkanot lo lo.
'ki' means 'because', 'hineni' means 'here I am', 'mikims' means 'I raise' or 'I set up', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'hakashdim' means 'the Kassites', 'hagoy' means 'the nation', 'hamar' means 'the bitter', 've' means 'and', 'animhar' means 'the Nimhar' (a proper name), 'haholekh' means 'the one who walks', 'lemerchavei' means 'to the expanses of', 'eretz' means 'the earth', 'lareshet' means 'to inherit', 'mishkanot' means 'dwelling places', 'lo' means 'not', the final 'lo' means 'to him'.
[HAB.1.7] Terrible and awesome is He; from us his judgment and his wrath shall go out. [§]
Ayom ve'nora hu mimenu mishpato ush'eto yetze.
'Ayom' means 'terrible', 've'nora' means 'and awesome', 'hu' means 'he', 'mimenu' means 'from us', 'mishpato' means 'his judgment', 'ush'eto' means 'and his wrath', 'yetze' means 'will go out' or 'shall depart'.
[HAB.1.8] And they made his horses swift from the flaming, and they sharpened them from the evening, and they rushed his horses, and his horses will come from afar; they will swoop like a swift eagle to devour. [§]
vekaloo minnemerim susav vechadu mizavei erev upashu parashav uparashav merachok yavoh ya'uf knesher hash leechol.
'vekaloo' means 'and (they) made swift', 'minnemerim' means 'from the flaming ones', 'susav' means 'his horses', 'vechadu' means 'and (they) sharpened', 'mizavei' means 'from the evening', 'erev' means 'evening', 'upashu' means 'and (they) rushed', 'parashav' means 'his horses', 'uparashav' is a repeated form meaning 'his horses', 'merachok' means 'from a distance', 'yavoh' means 'they will come', 'ya'uf' means 'they will swoop', 'knesher' means 'like an eagle', 'hash' means 'swift', 'leechol' means 'to eat'.
[HAB.1.9] All for violence will come, the bitterness of their faces forward, and he gathered like sand of my oath. [§]
Kulo lechamas yavo megamat p'neihem kadima va'yesof kachol shevi.
'Kulo' means 'all' or 'everything'. 'Lechamas' means 'for violence' or 'to war'. 'Yavo' means 'will come' or 'will happen'. 'Megamat' derives from the root g-m-t and here means 'bitterness' or 'bitter state'. 'P'neihem' means 'their faces' (literally 'the face of them'). 'Kadima' means 'forward' or 'ahead'. 'Va'yesof' means 'and he gathered' or 'and he collected'. 'Kachol' means 'like sand' (literally 'as sand'). 'Shevi' is a form of 'my oath' (from 'shev' meaning oath), here rendered as 'my oath'.
[HAB.1.10] And he will mock among the kings, and the scoffers are his amusement; he will mock every fortress, and he will scatter dust and seize it. [§]
vehu ba-melachim yitkallas ve-rozanim mischah lo hu lekhol-mivtzar yischak vayitsbor afar vayilkedah.
'vehu' means 'and he', 'ba-melachim' means 'among the kings', 'yitkallas' means 'will mock', 've-rozanim' means 'and the scoffers', 'mischah' means 'play' or 'amusement', 'lo' means 'to him' or 'for him', 'hu' means 'he', 'lekhol-mivtzar' means 'to every fortress', 'yischak' means 'will mock', 'vayitsbor' means 'and will scatter', 'afar' means 'dust', 'vayilkedah' means 'and will seize it'.
[HAB.1.11] Then the wind passed by and I will accuse this, his strength for his God. [§]
az chalaf ruach vayyaavor ve'asham zu kocho leeloho.
'az' means 'then', 'chalaf' means 'passed' or 'flew by', 'ruach' means 'wind' or 'spirit', 'vayyaavor' means 'and passed through', 've'asham' means 'and I will accuse' or 'blame', 'zu' means 'this', 'kocho' means 'his strength' or 'power', 'leeloho' means 'to his God' or 'for his God'.
[HAB.1.12] Is not you from the beginning, Yahveh my God, my holy one? We will not die; Yahveh is appointed for judgment, and the rock is to make firm what I have established. [§]
Halo ata mikedem Yahveh Elohai kedoshi lo namut Yahveh lemispat samto veTsur lehohich yasadto.
'Halo' means 'Is not', 'ata' means 'you', 'mikedem' means 'from the beginning', 'Yahveh' is the literal name of God, 'Elohai' means 'my God', 'kedoshi' means 'my holy one', 'lo' means 'not', 'namut' means 'we will die' (negative), 'Yahveh' again, 'lemispat' means 'for judgment', 'samto' means 'he placed it', 'veTsur' means 'and rock', 'lehohich' means 'to make firm', 'yasadto' means 'I have established it'.
[HAB.1.13] Pure eyes from seeing evil and look toward work. You cannot; why do you look at traitors? Be silent while the wicked destroy the righteous from among us. [§]
tehor einayim mer'ot ra vehabbit el amal lo tukhal lamah tabit bogdim tacharish bebala rasha tzadik mimmenu.
'tehor' means 'pure', 'einayim' means 'eyes', 'mer'ot' means 'from seeing', 'ra' means 'evil', 'vehabbit' means 'and look', 'el' means 'to', 'amal' means 'labor' or 'work', 'lo' means 'not', 'tukhal' means 'you can', 'lamah' means 'why', 'tabit' means 'do you look', 'bogdim' means 'traitors', 'tacharish' means 'be silent', 'bebala' means 'in the destruction', 'rasha' means 'wicked', 'tzadik' means 'righteous', 'mimmenu' means 'from among us'.
[HAB.1.14] And man made it like the fish of the sea, like a worm that does not rule over it. [§]
vatta'aseh adam kidgei hayam k'remes lo-moshel bo.
'vatta'aseh' means 'and made', 'adam' means 'man', 'kidgei' means 'like the fish of', 'hayam' means 'the sea', 'k'remes' means 'like a worm', 'lo-moshel' means 'who does not rule', 'bo' means 'over it'.
[HAB.1.15] All in decree He raised; He will bring him to ruin in his deceit and will gather him in his bitterness; therefore he will rejoice and be glad. [§]
Kulo bechakka he'ala yege'rohu becheremo v'yaasfehu be-mikmarto al-ken yismach v'yagil.
'Kulo' means 'all', 'bechakka' means 'in decree', 'he'ala' means 'he raised', 'yege'rohu' means 'he will bring him to ruin', 'becheremo' means 'in his deceit', 'v'yaasfehu' means 'and will gather him', 'be-mikmarto' means 'in his bitterness', 'al-ken' means 'therefore', 'yismach' means 'he will rejoice', 'v'yagil' means 'and will be glad'.
[HAB.1.16] Therefore he will sacrifice for his profit and will be frugal for his bitterness because in the fat is his portion and his food in creation. [§]
Al-ken yezabeach lecheremo viqatter le-mikmarto ki bahemah shamen chelko u-ma'akhalo be-ri'ah.
'Al-ken' means 'therefore'; 'yezabeach' means 'he will sacrifice'; 'lecheremo' means 'for his profit'; 'viqatter' means 'and he will be frugal'; 'le-mikmarto' means 'for his bitterness'; 'ki' means 'because'; 'bahemah' means 'in the fat'; 'shamen' means 'fat'; 'chelko' means 'his portion'; 'u-ma'akhalo' means 'and his food'; 'be-ri'ah' means 'in creation'.
[HAB.1.17] Therefore, he will cast off his guilt and forever will not show mercy to the slaying of nations. [§]
Ha'al ken yarik cheremo ve-tamid la-harog goyim lo yachmol.
'Ha'al' means 'therefore', 'ken' means 'so' or 'thus', 'yarik' means 'will cast away' or 'will cut off', 'cheremo' means 'his guilt' or 'his charge', 've-tamid' means 'and forever', 'la-harog' means 'to slay' or 'to kill', 'goyim' means 'nations' or 'peoples', 'lo' means 'not', 'yachmol' means 'will show mercy' or 'will be compassionate'.
HAB.2
[HAB.2.1] Upon my watch I will stand and I will set up on the stronghold, and I will watch to see what will be spoken to me and what I shall answer to my criticism. [§]
Al mishmarti eamodah veetzava al matzor veatzapeh lir'ot mah yedaber bi umah ashib al tochachti.
'Al' means 'upon' or 'on'; 'mishmarti' means 'my watch' or 'my guard'; 'eamodah' means 'I will stand'; 'veetzava' means 'and I will set up' or 'and I will place'; 'al' means 'on' or 'upon'; 'matzor' means 'a bulwark' or 'stronghold'; 'veatzapeh' means 'and I will watch' or 'and I will look out'; 'lir'ot' means 'to see'; 'mah' means 'what'; 'yedaber' means 'will speak' or 'will say'; 'bi' means 'to me' or 'in me'; 'umah' means 'and what'; 'ashib' means 'will I answer' or 'will I reply'; 'al' means 'to' or 'against'; 'tochachti' means 'my reproach' or 'my criticism'.
[HAB.2.2] And Yahveh answered me and said, Write the vision and the interpretation on the tablets for the one who runs may read it. [§]
vayaanei Yahveh vayomer ketov chazon uveer al ha-luchot lema'an yarutz kore bo.
'vayaanei' means 'and answered me', 'Yahveh' means 'Yahveh', 'vayomer' means 'and said', 'ketov' means 'write', 'chazon' means 'vision', 'uveer' means 'and interpretation', 'al ha-luchot' means 'on the tablets', 'lema'an' means 'for the sake of', 'yarutz' means 'who runs', 'kore' means 'reads', 'bo' means 'it'.
[HAB.2.3] For still a vision is for the appointed time, and it will be fulfilled at the end, and it will not be false; if it lingers, wait for it, for when it comes it will not be delayed. [§]
ki od chazon lamoad veyapheach laqetz velo yechazev im yitmahmeh chakkeh-lo ki bo yavo lo yeacher.
'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'od' means 'still' or 'yet', 'chazon' means 'vision' or 'prophecy', 'lamoad' means 'for the appointed time', 'veyapheach' means 'and it shall be fulfilled', 'laqetz' means 'at the end', 'velo' means 'and not', 'yechazev' means 'it will not lie' or 'it will not be false', 'im' means 'if', 'yitmahmeh' means 'it is delayed' or 'it lingers', 'chakkeh-lo' means 'wait for it', 'ki' means 'for' or 'because', 'bo' means 'when he comes', 'yavo' means 'he will come', 'lo' means 'not', 'yeacher' means 'delay' or 'be late'.
[HAB.2.4] Behold, transgression is not right in his soul, and the righteous shall live by his faith. [§]
Hineh upelah lo-yashra nafsho bo ve tzadik beemunato yichyeh.
'Hineh' means 'Behold', 'upelah' means 'transgression' or 'rebellion', 'lo-yashra' means 'is not straight' or 'is not right', 'nafsho' means 'his soul', 'bo' means 'in it', 've' means 'and', 'tzadik' means 'the righteous one', 'beemunato' means 'by his faith' or 'by his trust', 'yichyeh' means 'shall live'.
[HAB.2.5] And yet because the wine betrays a proud man, and he will not be satiated, whose soul he expands like a thief, and he is like death and will not be satisfied, and he gathered to him all the nations and assembled to him all the peoples. [§]
ve'af ki ha-yayin boged gever yahir ve-lo yinveh asher hirchiv kish'ol nafsho ve-hu kamavet ve-lo yisba' vay-asef elav kol-hagoyim vayikbatz elav kol-ha'amim.
've'af' means 'and yet', 'ki' means 'because', 'ha-yayin' means 'the wine', 'boged' means 'betrays', 'gever' means 'man', 'yahir' means 'proud' or 'arrogant', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'yinveh' means 'be satiated', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'hirchiv' means 'expanded', 'kish'ol' means 'like a thief' (idiom for greedily), 'nafsho' means 'his soul', 've-hu' means 'and he', 'kamavet' means 'as death', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'yisba'' means 'be satisfied', 'vay-asef' means 'and he gathered', 'elav' means 'to him', 'kol-hagoyim' means 'all the nations', 'vayikbatz' means 'and he assembled', 'kol-ha'amim' means 'all the peoples'.
[HAB.2.6] Surely these all upon him are a proverb they will lift and a confusing riddle for him, and he will say, woe to the many, not for him, until when, and he burdens upon him an obstacle. [§]
halo eleh kulam alav mashal yisau u melitsa chidot lo veoymar hoi hamarbeh lo-lo ad matai umakhbid alav avtit.
'halo' means 'surely', 'eleh' means 'these', 'kulam' means 'all of them', 'alav' means 'upon him', 'mashal' means 'proverb' or 'example', 'yisau' means 'they will lift' or 'they will bear', 'u' means 'and', 'melitsa' means 'confusing' or 'perplexing', 'chidot' means 'riddles', 'lo' means 'to him', 'veoymar' means 'and he will say', 'hoi' means 'woe', 'hamarbeh' means 'the many' or 'the abundant', 'lo-lo' means 'not for him', 'ad' means 'until', 'matai' means 'when', 'umakhbid' means 'burdens' or 'presses heavily', 'avtit' means 'obstacle' or 'stumbling block'.
[HAB.2.7] Surely a sudden uprising of your oppressors will crush your anguish, and you will become a spoil for them. [§]
Halo petah yakumu noshekhecha ve-yik'tzu mezaz'zecha ve-hayita limshisot lamoo.
'Halo' means 'surely not' or rhetorical 'is it not', 'petah' means 'sudden', 'yakumu' means 'they will arise', 'noshekhecha' is from the root 'n-sh-kh' meaning 'your oppressors' or 'those who bite you', 've-yik'tzu' means 'and they will crush', 'mezaz'zecha' is from the root 'z-'-z'' meaning 'your distress' or 'your anguish', 've-hayita' means 'and you will become', 'limshisot' is from the root 'm-sh-s' meaning 'a spoil' or 'a thing to be taken', and 'lamoo' means 'to them'.
[HAB.2.8] For you shall rule over many nations; you will cast out all the other peoples, the blood of man and the oppression of the earth, the city and all who dwell in it. [§]
Ki ata shalot goyim rabim yeshallucha kol-yeter amim midmei adam vechamas eretz qirya vechol yoshvei bah.
'Ki' means 'for', 'ata' means 'you', 'shalot' means 'shall rule' or 'will govern', 'goyim' means 'nations', 'rabim' means 'many', 'yeshallucha' means 'you will cast out' or 'you will subdue', 'kol' means 'all' or 'the whole', 'yeter' means 'the rest' or 'the other', 'amim' means 'peoples', 'midmei' means 'the blood of', 'adam' means 'man', 'vechamas' means 'and oppression', 'eretz' means 'earth' or 'land', 'qirya' means 'the city', 'vechol' means 'and all', 'yoshvei' means 'inhabitants' or 'those who dwell', 'bah' means 'in it'.
[HAB.2.9] Alas, one who shatters destructive evil for his house, to place his wrath in the heights, to escape from the hand of evil. [§]
Hoi botze'a betza ra leveito lasum bamamrom kino lehinatzel mikaf ra.
'Hoi' means 'Alas', an expression of lament. 'botze'a' means 'who shatters' or 'who breaks'. 'betza' means 'destruction' or 'ruin'. 'ra' means 'evil' or 'bad'. 'leveito' means 'to his house' or 'for his household'. 'lasum' means 'to put' or 'to place'. 'bamamrom' means 'in the heights' or 'in the high place'. 'kino' means 'his jealousy' or 'his wrath/zeal'. 'lehinatzel' means 'to be saved' or 'to escape'. 'mikaf' means 'from the hand of'. 'ra' again means 'evil'.
[HAB.2.10] You have advised shame to your house, the ends of many peoples, and you have sinned against your own soul. [§]
Yaatzta boshet leveitecha ketzot amim rabbim vechoteh nafsecha.
'Yaatzta' means 'you advised', 'boshet' means 'shame', 'leveitecha' means 'to your house', 'ketzot' means 'ends', 'amim' means 'peoples', 'rabbim' means 'many', 'vechoteh' means 'and you sin', 'nafsecha' means 'your soul'.
[HAB.2.11] For a stone from the wall will cry out, and a wooden pestle will answer. [§]
ki-evhen mi-kir ti-zaq ve-ka-fis me-ets ya-an-na
'ki' means 'for' or 'because', 'evhen' means 'stone', 'mi' means 'from', 'kir' means 'wall', 'ti-zaq' means 'will cry out', 've' means 'and', 'ka-fis' means 'pestle', 'me' means 'from', 'ets' means 'wood', 'ya-an-na' means 'will answer'.
[HAB.2.12] Woe to the one who builds a city with blood and establishes a town with injustice. [§]
Hoi boneh ir be-damim ve-konen kiryah be-avelah.
'Hoi' means 'Woe', 'boneh' means 'who builds' or 'building', 'ir' means 'city', 'be-damim' means 'with blood', 've-konen' means 'and establishes', 'kiryah' means 'town', 'be-avelah' means 'with injustice' or 'by falsehood'.
[HAB.2.13] Is not this from Yahveh of hosts, and the peoples will be consumed with fire, and the nations will be scattered with emptiness. [§]
halo hinneh me'et Yahveh Tzevaot ve yig'u amim be dei esh u leummim be dei rik yafhu.
'halo' means 'is not', 'hinneh' means 'behold', 'me'et' means 'from', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHWH, 'Tzevaot' means 'hosts', 've' means 'and', 'yig'u' means 'they will be consumed', 'amim' means 'peoples', 'be' means 'with', 'dei' means 'the fire of', 'esh' means 'fire', 'u' means 'and', 'leummim' means 'nations', 'be' again means 'with', 'dei' again means 'the emptiness of', 'rik' means 'emptiness', 'yafhu' means 'they will be scattered'.
[HAB.2.14] For the earth shall be filled to know the glory of Yahveh as the waters cover the sea. [§]
Ki timmale ha'aretz lada'at et kevod Yahveh ka-mayim yekhasu al yam.
'Ki' means 'for', 'timmale' means 'shall be filled', 'ha'aretz' means 'the earth', 'lada'at' means 'to know', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'kevod' means 'glory', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'ka-mayim' means 'like the waters', 'yekhasu' means 'shall cover', 'al' means 'over', and 'yam' means 'the sea'.
[HAB.2.15] Woe to the drinker of his companion, who stirs up your wrath, and also intoxication, for the sake of looking upon their pits. [§]
Hoi mashke re'ehu mesapekh khamatekha ve'af shakker le'ma'an ha'bit al me'orehem.
'Hoi' means 'woe', 'mashke' means 'drinker', 're'ehu' means 'his companion', 'mesapekh' means 'who stirs up', 'khamatekha' means 'your wrath', 've'af' means 'and also', 'shakker' means 'drunk' or 'intoxication', 'le'ma'an' means 'for the sake of', 'ha'bit' means 'look' (imperative), 'al' means 'upon', 'me'orehem' means 'their pits' (holes, graves).
[HAB.2.16] You have satisfied a cup of honor; drink also you and be glad; a cup of Yahveh's right hand will turn upon you and a small cup upon your honor. [§]
Sabata kalon mikavod shteh gam attah vehearel tissov alekha kos yemin Yahveh veqiqalon al-kevodekha.
'Sabata' means 'you have satisfied', 'kalon' means 'cup', 'mikavod' means 'of honor', 'shteh' means 'drink (imperative)', 'gam' means 'also', 'attah' means 'you', 'vehearel' means 'and be glad/rejoice', 'tissov' means 'you will turn/turn around', 'alekha' means 'upon you', 'kos' means 'cup', 'yemin' means 'right hand', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'veqiqalon' means 'and a small cup', 'al' means 'upon', 'kevodekha' means 'your honor/glory'.
[HAB.2.17] For oppression of Lebanon will cover you, and cruelty among beasts will raise you from the blood of man, and oppression of the land is a city and all its inhabitants. [§]
Ki chamas levanon yekhassekha ve-shod behemot yachitan midmei adam v'khamas-aretz kiryah ve-khol-yoshevei bah.
'Ki' means 'for', 'chamas' means 'oppression' or 'cruelty', 'Levanon' means 'Lebanon', 'yekhassekha' means 'will cover you', 've' means 'and', 'shod' means 'slaughter' or 'cruelty', 'behemot' means 'beasts' or 'animals', 'yachitan' means 'will raise (you) up', 'midmei' means 'from the blood of', 'adam' means 'man', 'v'khamas-aretz' means 'and oppression of the earth/land', 'kiryah' means 'city', 've' again means 'and', 'khol-yoshevei' means 'all the dwellers/inhabitants', 'bah' means 'of it'.
[HAB.2.18] What a foolish thing an idol is, because its idol is its maker, a mask and a false teacher, because the Creator trusted his own creator over it to make blind idols. [§]
mah ho'il pesel ki pesalo yotzro masecha u-moreh shaker ki batach yotzer yitzo alav laasot elilim ilmim.
'mah' means 'what', 'ho'il' means 'is foolish' (from the verb causing folly), 'pesel' means 'idol', 'ki' means 'because', 'pesalo' means 'its idol', 'yotzro' means 'its maker', 'masecha' means 'a mask', 'u-moreh' means 'and a teacher', 'shaker' means 'false', 'batach' means 'trusted', 'yotzer' means 'the Creator', 'yitzo' means 'his creator', 'alav' means 'upon it', 'laasot' means 'to make', 'elilim' means 'idols', 'ilmim' means 'blind'.
[HAB.2.19] Woe says to the tree: arise, my fire, to the mute stone; he shines, behold, he is seized, gold and silver, and no spirit is in its interior. [§]
Hoi omer laets haqitza ori laeven dum hu yoreh hine hu tafush zahav vekesef vechol ruach ein bikrvvo.
'Hoi' means 'woe', 'omer' means 'says', 'laets' means 'to the tree', 'haqitza' means 'arise' or 'wake up', 'ori' means 'my fire', 'laeven' means 'to the stone', 'dum' means 'mute' or 'silent', 'hu' means 'he', 'yoreh' means 'shines' or 'gives light', 'hine' means 'behold', 'tafush' means 'is seized' or 'is grasped', 'zahav' means 'gold', 'vekesef' means 'and silver', 'vechol' means 'and all', 'ruach' means 'spirit' or 'breath', 'ein' means 'is not', 'bikrvvo' means 'in its interior'.
[HAB.2.20] Yahveh, in his holy temple, drove away all the earth before him. [§]
vaYahveh beHeikal Kadosho has mip'neiv kol haaretz.
'vaYahveh' means 'and Yahveh', 'beHeikal' means 'in the temple', 'Kadosho' means 'his holy (thing)', 'has' means 'drove away', 'mip'neiv' means 'before him', 'kol' means 'all', 'haaretz' means 'the earth'.
HAB.3
[HAB.3.1] Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet concerning the enigmas. [§]
Tefilla leHabakkuk haNavi al shigyonot.
'Tefilla' means 'prayer', 'leHabakkuk' means 'of Habakkuk' (a proper name), 'haNavi' means 'the prophet', 'al' means 'concerning' or 'about', 'shigyonot' is a plural noun meaning 'enigmas', 'riddles', or 'mysteries'.
[HAB.3.2] Yahveh I heard your voice, I am afraid; Yahveh your deed in the midst of years his life; in the midst of years you will make known, in the womb compassion you will remember. [§]
Yahveh shama'ti shim'acha yareti Yahveh pa'al'cha be'kerev shanim chayeihu be'kerev shanim todiy'a be'rogez rachem tizkor.
'Yahveh' means the personal name of God (YHVH). 'shama'ti' means 'I heard'. 'shim'acha' means 'your hearing' or 'your voice'. 'yareti' means 'I feared' or 'I am afraid'. 'Yahveh' again is the name of God. 'pa'al'cha' means 'your deed' or 'your work'. 'be'kerev' means 'in the midst of'. 'shanim' means 'years'. 'chayeihu' means 'his life'. The phrase repeats 'be'kerev shanim' meaning 'in the midst of years'. 'todiy'a' means 'you will make known' or 'you will declare'. 'be'rogez' means 'in the womb' (literally 'in the womb' or 'in the womb of compassion'). 'rachem' means 'compassion' or 'mercy'. 'tizkor' means 'you will remember'.
[HAB.3.3] God from the east will come and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. The covering of the heavens is his glory, and his praise fills the earth. [§]
Eloah mitteyman yavo ve kadosh mehar Paren selah kisa shamayim hodo u tehilato maleah haaretz.
'Eloah' means 'God'; 'mitteyman' means 'from the east'; 'yavo' means 'will come'; 've' means 'and'; 'kadosh' means 'the Holy One'; 'mehar Paren' means 'from Mount Paran'; 'selah' is a liturgical pause; 'kisa' means 'covering'; 'shamayim' means 'heavens'; 'hodo' means 'his glory'; 'u' means 'and'; 'tehilato' means 'his praise'; 'maleah' means 'full'; 'haaretz' means 'the earth'.
[HAB.3.4] And it will shine like a light, horns from his hand to him, and there is a strength of his strength. [§]
ve-nogah ka-or tiheyyeh karnayim mi-yado lo ve-sham chevyon uzo.
've-nogah' means 'and it will shine', 'ka-or' means 'like a light', 'tiheyyeh' means 'it will be', 'karnayim' means 'horns', 'mi-yado' means 'from his hand', 'lo' means 'to him', 've-sham' means 'and there', 'chevyon' means 'strength' or 'stronghold', 'uzo' means 'his strength'.
[HAB.3.5] Before him dust goes, and a swarm goes out to his feet. [§]
Lefanav yelek daver ve-yetseh reshif le-raglav.
'Lefanav' means 'before him', 'yelek' means 'goes', 'daver' means 'dust', 've-yetseh' means 'and goes out', 'reshif' means 'a swarm', 'le-raglav' means 'to his feet'.
[HAB.3.6] He stood and measured the earth, saw and spread out the nations, and the mountains of eternity were scattered, the hills of everlasting wanderers forever belong to him. [§]
amad vaymoded eretz raah vayyater goyim vayitpotzu harrei-ad sachu gibot olam halichot olam lo.
'amad' means 'stood', 'vaymoded' means 'and measured', 'eretz' means 'the earth', 'raah' means 'saw', 'vayyater' means 'and spread out', 'goyim' means 'nations', 'vayitpotzu' means 'and they were scattered', 'harrei-ad' means 'the mountains of eternity', 'sachu' means 'were scattered', 'gibot' means 'hills', 'olam' means 'everlasting', 'halichot' means 'walkers' or 'wanderers', 'olam' again 'everlasting', 'lo' means 'to him' or 'his'.
[HAB.3.7] Under iniquity I saw the tents of Kushan; they shall be enraged the plains of the land of Midian. [§]
tachat avon ra'iti aho'lei kushan yirgezun yeriyot eretz midyan.
'tachat' means 'under' or 'beneath'; 'avon' means 'iniquity' or 'wickedness'; 'ra'iti' means 'I saw'; 'aho'lei' is the construct form of 'tent' meaning 'tents of'; 'kushan' is a proper name, likely referring to a people or region called Cushan; 'yirgezun' is a third‑person plural future verb meaning 'they shall be enraged' or 'they will become angry'; 'yeriyot' means 'plains' or 'open spaces'; 'eretz' means 'land' or 'ground'; 'midyan' is the name of the region Midian.
[HAB.3.8] The rivers are angry, Yahveh; if your wrath is in the rivers, if your crossing is in the sea, for you will ride upon your horses, and your chariots are salvation. [§]
ha-binharim chara Yahveh im ba-naharim appeka im-bayam evratekha ki tirkab al-susekha markevoteikha yeshua.
'ha-binharim' means 'the rivers', 'chara' means 'is angry', 'Yahveh' is the divine name YHVH, 'im' means 'if', 'ba-naharim' means 'in the rivers', 'appeka' means 'your anger', 'im-bayam' means 'if in the sea', 'evratekha' means 'your crossing', 'ki' means 'for', 'tirkab' means 'you will ride', 'al-susekha' means 'upon your horses', 'markevoteikha' means 'your chariots', 'yeshua' means 'salvation'.
[HAB.3.9] Nakedness you will awaken, your bow, weeks, tribes, said rock, rivers, you will split the earth. [§]
Er-ya te'or kashtecha shevuot matot omer sela neharot tevaka-aretz.
'Er-ya' means 'nakedness' or 'poverty', 'te'or' means 'you will stir' or 'you will awaken', 'kashtecha' means 'your bow', 'shevuot' means 'weeks' (or Sabbaths), 'matot' means 'tribes' or 'units', 'omer' means 'said' or 'he/she says', 'sela' means 'rock', 'neharot' means 'rivers', 'tevaka-aretz' means 'you will split the earth'.
[HAB.3.10] They have seen you, the mountains, the rush of water passed; He gave the deep its voice; lofty are his hands lifted. [§]
Ra'ukha yachilu ha-ramim zerem mayim avar natan tehom kholo rom yadeihu nasa.
'Ra\'ukha' means 'they have seen you', 'yachilu' means 'they will tremble' or 'they are terrified', 'ha-ramim' means 'the mountains', 'zerem' means 'the rush' or 'stream', 'mayim' means 'water', 'avar' means 'passed', 'natan' means 'He gave', 'tehom' means 'the deep', 'kollo' means 'its voice', 'rom' means 'height' or 'exalted', 'yadeihu' means 'his hands', 'nasa' means 'lifted' or 'raised'.
[HAB.3.11] Sun, moon, a weapon stood for the light of your halves; they walk to blaze in the lightning of your sword. [§]
Shemesh yareach amad zevulah le-or chitzeykha yehaleku le-nogah be-rak chaniteka.
'Shemesh' means 'sun', 'yareach' means 'moon', 'amad' means 'stood', 'zevulah' means 'a weapon' (from the root meaning 'weapon' or 'spear'), 'le-or' means 'to the light', 'chitzeykha' means 'your halves', 'yehaleku' means 'they walk' or 'they go', 'le-nogah' means 'to blaze' or 'to shine', 'be-rak' means 'with lightning' or 'in the flash', 'chaniteka' means 'your sword'.
[HAB.3.12] In anger you shall walk the earth; in wrath you will trample the nations. [§]
bzaam titsad aretz baf tadush goyim.
'bzaam' means 'in anger', 'titsad' means 'you will step' or 'you shall walk', 'aretz' means 'the earth', 'baf' means 'in wrath', 'tadush' means 'you will trample', 'goyim' means 'nations'.
[HAB.3.13] You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your Messiah; you split the head from the house of the wicked, [the] cities [as] foundation until the edge, pause. [§]
Yatzata leyesha ammekha leyesha et-Meshichekha machatzta rosh mi-beit rasha arot yesod ad tzavar sela.
'Yatzata' means 'you went out', 'leyesha' means 'for salvation', 'ammekha' means 'your people', the second 'leyesha' repeats 'for salvation', 'et-Meshichekha' means 'of your Messiah', 'machatzta' means 'you split', 'rosh' means 'the head', 'mi-beit' means 'from the house of', 'rasha' means 'the wicked', 'arot' means 'cities', 'yesod' means 'foundation', 'ad' means 'until', 'tzavar' is a difficult word likely meaning 'the edge' or 'the limit', and 'sela' is a musical/ liturgical term meaning 'pause' or 'stop'.
[HAB.3.14] You dug in the head of his spear's edge; they will scatter me on their fury like one who eats the poor in secret. [§]
Naqavta be'metav rosh perezav yis'aru lahafitseni alitsutum kemo-le'echol ani bamisstar.
'Naqavta' means 'you dug', 'be'' means 'in', 'metav' means 'his spear', 'rosh' means 'head', 'perezav' means 'of the edge', 'yis'aru' means 'they will scatter', 'lahafitseni' means 'against me' or 'to spread me', 'alitsutum' means 'their fury' or 'their indignation', 'kemo' means 'like', 'le'echol' means 'to eat', 'ani' means 'the poor', 'bamisstar' means 'in secret' or 'in the hidden place'.
[HAB.3.15] You have walked in the sea, your horses are clay, many waters. [§]
darachta bayam susheikha chomer mayim rabim.
'darachta' means 'you have walked', 'bayam' means 'in the sea', 'susheikha' means 'your horses', 'chomer' means 'clay', 'mayim' means 'water', 'rabim' means 'many'.
[HAB.3.16] I heard and you will shake my belly to the sound that lingered; my lips will stammer, a grave will enter my bones and beneath me I will shiver, which I will plead for the day of trouble to rise up for the people who will be humbled. [§]
shamati vatrigaz bitni lekol tzalalu s'fatay yavo rakav ba'atzamai v'tachtai ergaz asher anuch le'yom tzara la'alot le'am yigudennu.
'shamati' means 'I heard', 'vatrigaz' means 'and you will shake', 'bitni' means 'my belly', 'lekol' means 'to the voice/sound', 'tzalalu' means 'that lingered', 's'fatay' means 'my lips', 'yavo' means 'will come', 'rakav' means 'a grave', 'ba'atzamai' means 'in my bones', 'v'tachtai' means 'and beneath me', 'ergaz' means 'I will shiver', 'asher' means 'which', 'anuch' means 'I will plead', 'le'yom' means 'for the day', 'tzara' means 'of trouble', 'la'alot' means 'to rise up', 'le'am' means 'for the people', 'yigudennu' means 'that will be humbled'.
[HAB.3.17] Because the fig tree will not blossom and there is no crop in the vines; the work of the olive is false and its seedlings have not made food. The flock has been drawn away from the pasture, and there is no cattle in the plains. [§]
Ki te'ena lo tifrach ve'eyn yevul bagfenim kiches ma'aseh zayit ushedemot lo asah okhel gazar mimichlah tzon ve'eyn bakar barphtim.
'Ki' means 'because', 'te'ena' means 'fig tree', 'lo' means 'not', 'tifrach' means 'will blossom', 've'eyn' means 'and there is no', 'yevul' means 'crop', 'bagfenim' means 'in the vines', 'kiches' means 'as false', 'ma'aseh' means 'work' or 'deed', 'zayit' means 'olive', 'ushedemot' means 'its seedlings', 'lo' means 'not', 'asah' means 'made', 'okhel' means 'food', 'gazar' means 'drawn away', 'mimichlah' means 'from the pasture', 'tzon' means 'flock', 've'eyn' means 'and there is no', 'bakar' means 'cattle', 'barphtim' means 'in the plains'.
[HAB.3.18] I will exult in Yahweh, I will rejoice in the Gods of my salvation. [§]
va'ani baYahweh e'lozah agila beElohei yishi
'va'ani' means 'I' (with the conjunction 'and'); 'baYahweh' means 'in Yahweh' (YHVH rendered as Yahveh); 'e'lozah' means 'I will exult' or 'I will boast'; 'agila' means 'I will rejoice'; 'beElohei' is the construct form of 'Elohim', literally 'of the Gods'; 'yishi' means 'my salvation'.
[HAB.3.19] Yahveh my Lord, my strength, He set my feet like hinds, and upon my steps He will guide me to the chief musician with my strings. [§]
Yahveh Adonai cheli vayasem raglai ka'aylot ve'al bamotai yadricheni lamnatzach bineginotai.
'Yahveh' means the name of God YHVH; 'Adonai' means my Lord; 'cheli' means my strength; 'vayasem' means and He placed; 'raglai' means my feet; 'ka'aylot' means like hinds (female deer); 've'al' means and upon; 'bamotai' means my steps; 'yadricheni' means He will guide me; 'lamnatzach' means to the chief musician; 'bineginotai' means with my strings or melodies.