Parallelism in Habakkuk

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Habakkuk - New American Standard	Parallelism	Notes or another level of parallelism
Habakkuk 1  1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.	Title & Introduction	Introduces entire book
1:2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear?	I cry for help and God does not answer	Habakkuk begins talking to God
I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.	I cry for help and God does not answer
1:3 Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness?	Things have really gotten bad	God makes me see wickedness
		God makes me see wickedness
Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.	Things have really gotten bad	Notice the two pairs - destruction & violence and strife & contention.  Also phrase beginning with "Yes" and "Strife" parallel each other
1:4 Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld.	Justice is failing
For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.	Justice is failing
1:5 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder!	Something amazing is about to happen in the world	God answers the prophet also notice the two pairs - look & observe and be astonished & wonder
Because I am doing something in your days— You would not believe if you were told.	Something amazing is about to happen in the world
1:6 “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.	I'm raising up a violent people who will for a time have authority and victory	Chaldeans were a particular kind of Babylonian. also notice the two pairs - fierce & impetuous and march & seize
1:7 “They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves.	I'm raising up a violent people who will for a time have authority and victory	Notice the two pairs dreaded & feared and justice & authority
1:8 “Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping,	They are fast and violent	Swifter than leopards Keener than wolves
Their horsemen come from afar; They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour. 1:9 “All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand.	They are fast and violent	Swoop on enemies like a bird of prey Scoop up captives like a sandstorm
1:10 “They mock at kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them.	They laugh at opposition
They laugh at every fortress And heap up rubble to capture it.	They laugh at opposition
1:11 “Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on.	This parallels the sand storm in verse 9	This verse links the passage Hab 1:1-11 together.  Hab 1:1-4 The prophet complains about the wicked.  Hab 1:5-10 says what will happen to them and zeroes in on where their wickedness comes from - worship self instead of God.  This kind of "chiastic" or distant context parallel is frequently used in Hebrew poetry to define stanza's and link them together.
But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.”	This parallels by contrast the statement by the prophet in the opening verses.
1:12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD,	God is before all	The prophet responds to God - and a new stanza begins.
my God, my Holy One?	God is above all
We will not die. You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge;	They will not kill us, but only correct us
And You, O Rock, have established them to correct.	but only correct us
1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,	God hates the sight of evil
And You can not look on wickedness with favor.	God hates the sight of evil
Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously?	Why do the wicked seem to prosper?
Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?	Why do the wicked seem to prosper?
1:14 Why have You made men like the fish of the sea,	Why have you degraded men to the status of animals?
Like creeping things without a ruler over them?	Why have you degraded men to the status of animals?
1:15 The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, Drag them away with their net, And gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore they rejoice and are glad.	Our enemies treat us like animals and are happy.	We are caught like fish We are caught like fish We are caught like fish Our enemies are happy
1:16 Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.	Our enemies treat us like animals and are happy	Their strength is their god Their strength is their god Their strength is their god Our enemies are happy
1:17 Will they therefore empty their net And continually slay nations without sparing?	I cry for help and God does not answer.	Parallel to Hab 1:2.  Signals end of section.
Habakkuk 2 2:1 I will stand on my guard post	I am waiting for God	Introduction to section 2
And station myself on the rampart;	I am waiting for God
And I will keep watch	I am waiting for God
to see what He will speak to me,	I'm ready to listen to Him
And how I may reply when I am reproved.	I'm ready to listen to Him
2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said,	Parallel to Hab 1:5	God speaks to the prophet - new stanza
“Record the vision	Write this down
And inscribe it on tablets,	Write this down
That the one who reads it may run.	It will accomplish its purpose in due time	See Isaiah 55:9-11
2:3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time;	It will accomplish its purpose in due time
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.	It will not fail to arrive at exactly the right time
Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.	It will not fail to arrive at exactly the right time
2:4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him;	The evil are not at peace within.	Parallel by contrast
But the righteous will live by his faith.	The righteous are at peace within.
2:5 “Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, So that he does not stay at home.	The lusts of the evil can never be satisfied	Parallel to Hab 2:4a - signals end of stanza
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied.	The lusts of the evil can never be satisfied
He also gathers to himself all nations	… even if they conquer the whole world.
And collects to himself all peoples.	… even if they conquer the whole world.
2:6 “Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him,	People will not stay conquered	God begins to talk about what will happen to evil people
Even mockery and insinuations against him	People will not stay conquered	Notice pair mockery & insinuations
And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—	He can not keep what does not belong to him	This could also be regarded as a quadruple parallel - "you can not keep what is not yours"
For how long— And makes himself rich with loans?’	He can not keep what does not belong to him
2:7 “Will not your creditors rise up suddenly,	What is not yours, you will have to pay back
And those who collect from you awaken?	What is not yours, you will have to pay back
Indeed, you will become plunder for them. 2:8 “Because you have looted many nations,	Those that conquer will be conquered.	Starting with verse 6 this parallel introduces a quintuple parallel with Hab 2:9, 12, 15 & 19 and ends the stanza.  Notice the pair - bloodshed & violence and the triplet land, town & inhabitants
All the remainder of the peoples will loot you— Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants.	Those that conquer will be conquered.
2:9 “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house To put his nest on high,	Woe to you if you think you can hide your evil.	Parallel Hab 2:6, 12. 15 & 19 - new stanza
To be delivered from the hand of calamity!	Woe to you if you think you can hide your evil	Notice how the discourse shifts back and forth between third person (he, him, his) and second person (you, your, yours).  I'm not sure what this signifies.  Two ideas.  3^rd person is the Chaldeans and 2^nd person is the Jews.  3^rd person is general principles, and 2^nd person is the Jews.  Not sure.  Could be something else.
2:10 “You have devised a shameful thing for your house By cutting off many peoples;	You are hurting yourself with your evil actions. Also "shameful thing for your house" parallels "evil gain for his house" in verse 9.
So you are sinning against yourself.	You are hurting yourself with your evil actions.
2:11 “Surely the stone will cry out from the wall,	The truth can not be hidden	Compare with Luke 19:37-40
And the rafter will answer it from the framework.	The truth can not be hidden
2:12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed	Woe to you if you build on a foundation of blood	Parallel Hab 2:6, 9, 15 & 19 - new stanza
And founds a town with violence!	Woe to you if you build on a foundation of blood	Notice bloodshed & violence parallel verse 2:8
2:13 “Is it not indeed from the LORD of hosts That peoples toil for fire,	If God is not in a project it will come to nothing
And nations grow weary for nothing?	If God is not in a project it will come to nothing
2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.	The earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord The sea will be covered with the glory of the Lord	God can not be hidden - parallel to Hab 2:11
2:15 “Woe to you who make your neighbors drink,	Woe to you for making your neighbors drunk …	Parallel Hab 2:6, 9, 12 & 19 - new stanza
Who mix in your venom even to make them drunk So as to look on their nakedness!	… for making your neighbors drunk, so that you can take advantage of them.	Notice the parallel to Hab 2:5 in the reference to drunkenness related to wine
2:16 “You will be filled with disgrace rather than honor.	This evil that you do will be done to you	This could be taken as a quadruple parallel - "This evil that you do will be done to you by the Lord."
Now you yourself drink and expose your own nakedness.	This evil that you do will be done to you
The cup in the LORD’S right hand will come around to you,	God will make you drink the cup …
And utter disgrace will come upon your glory.	… drink the cup of disgrace you forced on your neighbor.
2:17 “For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,	The violence you did will be done to you.	Parallels Hab 2:16 and could be taken as a six fold parallel
And the devastation of its beasts by which you terrified them,	The terror you caused will be done to you
Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants.	An almost exact duplicate of 2:8 and closing the section.	Notice the pair - bloodshed & violence and the triplet land, town & inhabitants -
2:18 “What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it, Or an image, a teacher of falsehood?	Worshipping idols you made yourself is silly & stupid	New subject, new stanza.  Might be talking about idols in general or the Chaldean gods of war in particular, or both.
For its maker trusts in his own handiwork When he fashions speechless idols.	Worshipping idols you made yourself is silly & stupid
2:19 “Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ‘Awake!’	Woe to you who trust in inanimate objects.	Hab 2:6 Woe to him who steals by legal means Hab 2:9 Woe to him who thinks his evil ways protect him from harm Hab 2:12 Woe to him whose accomplishments are founded on violence and evil Hab 2:15 Woe to him who manipulates his neighbor for the "fun" of demeaning them and/or to take advantage of them Hab 2:19 Woe to him who worships the work of his own hands
To a mute stone, ‘Arise!’ And that is your teacher?	Woe to you who trust in inanimate objects. ----------------------------- It might be an interesting exercise to compare this list of woes with the ones in Isaiah 5, Luke 6:24-26, Luke 11:37-52 and/or Matthew 23:13-29 or some of the other mentions of woes in the Bible.
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all inside it.	The speechless idols are deadness encased in pretty metal	Parallel by contrast - speechless gods vs. speechless people; dead vs. alive, pretty metal vs. holy temple
2:20 “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.”	God is alive in his holy temple, and the world is speechless before Him.
Habakkuk 3 3:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.	Introduction to the song.  This final section is a praise song and a musical prayer.  The beginning is defined by the Hebrew word Shigionoth which is some kind of musical direction, and the final phrase in Hab 3:19.
3:2 LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear.	Lord, I know you are powerful
O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years,	Lord, I know you are powerful, show your power now
In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.	… show your power now, but not too much.
3:3 God comes from Teman,	God comes from the south	Probably a poetic reference to God coming with the chosen people from Egypt, through Sinai, to the Promised Land
And the Holy One from Mount Paran.	God comes from the south
Selah.		End of musical stanza
His splendor covers the heavens,	God's glory is everywhere
And the earth is full of His praise.	God's glory is everywhere
3:4 His radiance is like the sunlight;	God is light, brighter than the sun
He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.	God is light, so bright we can not see the true Him
3:5 Before Him goes pestilence,	God is all powerful - controlling health and disease
And plague comes after Him.	God is all powerful - controlling health and disease
3:6 He stood and surveyed the earth;	God can see everything
He looked and startled the nations.	God can see everything
Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered,	God is all powerful - the earth obeys Him
The ancient hills collapsed.	God is all powerful - the earth obeys Him forever …
His ways are everlasting.	Everything about Him is forever.
3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan under distress,	Distant lands can not escape Him
The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.	Distant lands can not escape Him
3:8 Did the LORD rage against the rivers,	Was God angry at the water?	Triplet - probably a poetical reference to the dividing of the Red sea and the drowning of Pharoah's army
Or was Your anger against the rivers,	Was God angry at the water…
Or was Your wrath against the sea,	Was God angry at the water…
That You rode on Your horses,	…when He rode to the rescue?
On Your chariots of salvation?	…when He rode to the rescue?
3:9 Your bow was made bare,	God is totally committed, He is all in
The rods of chastisement were sworn.	God is totally committed, He is all in
Selah.		End of musical stanza
You cleaved the earth with rivers.	God is all powerful - the earth obeys Him	Parallel to Hab 3:6
3:10 The mountains saw You and quaked;	God is all powerful - the earth obeys Him
The downpour of waters swept by.	God is all powerful - the water obeys Him
The deep uttered forth its voice, It lifted high its hands.	God is all powerful - the water obeys Him
3:11 Sun and moon stood in their places;	God is all powerful - the heavens obey Him	Sun & moon pair
They went away at the light of Your arrows,	God is all powerful - the heavens obey Him	Poetical connection between light and power, compare with Hab 3:4
At the radiance of Your gleaming spear.
3:12 In indignation You marched through the earth;	God is all powerful - He can punish anyone anywhere
In anger You trampled the nations.	God is all powerful - He can punish anyone anywhere
3:13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,	God is Savior of His own people
For the salvation of Your anointed.	God is Savior of His own people
You struck the head of the house of the evil	God destroyed Satan	Introduces next stanza
To lay him open from thigh to neck.	God destroyed Satan
Selah.		End of musical stanza
3:14 You pierced with his own spears	His own evil was used against him	Parallel with Hab 2:10
The head of his throngs.	God destroyed Satan	Parallel with Hab 3:13
They stormed in to scatter us;	Our enemies overwhelm us	Parallel with Hab 1:6-11
Their exultation was like those Who devour the oppressed in secret.	Our enemies exalt over us	Parallel with Hab 1:16-17
3:15 You trampled on the sea with Your horses,	He went over the water	God rode to the rescue over the water Parallel with Hab 3:8
On the surge of many waters.	He went over the water
3:16 I heard and my inward parts trembled,	Hearing God was on the way made me excited with anticipation	Quadruple parallel - excited anticipation of the approach of the Lord
At the sound my lips quivered.	Hearing God was on the way made me excited with anticipation
Decay enters my bones,	Knowing God was on the way made me excited with anticipation
And in my place I tremble.	Knowing God was on the way made me excited with anticipation
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,	It is hard to wait patiently for our rescue
For the people to arise who will invade us.	It is hard to wait patiently for our rescue especially when I know it is going to get worse before it gets better
3:17 Though the fig tree should not blossom	If the orchards fail	No matter how bad it gets I will praise God
And there be no fruit on the vines,	If the orchards fail
Though the yield of the olive should fail	If the crops fail
And the fields produce no food,	If the crops fail
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold	If the herds all die
And there be no cattle in the stalls,	If the herds all die
3:18 Yet I will exult in the LORD,	No matter what I will give glory to God
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.	No matter what I will give glory to God my Savior
3:19 The Lord GOD is my strength,	God is my strength (Parallel salvation & strength)	Contrast to the Chaldeans whose strength is their god.  Hab 1:16
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,	God makes me walk safely high above the cares of the world	A "Hind" is a sure footed mountain goats
And makes me walk on my high places.	God makes me walk safely high above the cares of the world
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.		The end of the song that started in Hab 3:1

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