SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 1:16

1:16a Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net,

So they offer sacrifices and burn into smoke things that produce sweet smells in honor of their various nets.
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That is why they ⌊even⌋ bring sacrifices to them and burn frankincense in front of them, ⌊as if they were gods⌋ .
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That is why ⌊they worship their weapons and bring them different gifts/offerings. It is like fishermen who⌋ worship their nets and bring them gifts/offerings, ⌊like people do to honor you (sing.), God⌋ .

1:16b for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich.

⌊They do this⌋ because their nets make them rich and provide them with the best food.
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⌊They do so⌋ because their nets provide them with the best food ⌊and everything else⌋ .
-or-

⌊They do it⌋ because they gain riches and the best food by ⌊conquering people, as fishermen do by catching fish⌋ .

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 3:11

3:11a Sun and moon stood still in their places

The sun and moon stand still inside their homes in the sky/heaven.
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The sun and moon will stop moving through/in the sky.
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⌊It will be like⌋ the sun and moon do not move from their places.

3:11b at the flash of Your flying arrows,

⌊They stand⌋ because your (sing.) shining arrows fly.
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⌊They will stop⌋ when ⌊they see⌋ the bright light of your (sing.) arrows passing by.
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⌊It will be as if they stand still in the presence of your (sing.) power.⌋ They will see it in the bright arrows you ⌊shoot with your bow⌋ .

3:11c at the brightness of Your shining spear.

Your (sing.) spear is as bright as lightning, ⌊so they cannot move⌋ .
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⌊They will see⌋ your spear flashing like lightning ⌊and they will stand still⌋ .
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⌊It will be as if they stand still because they see⌋ your bright weapon ⌊that looks like⌋ lightning.

3:11a-c (reordered)

Because of the flash of your (sing.) flying arrows and the brightness of your shining spear, the sun and the moon stand still.
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When the sun and moon see your bright weapons, they will stop moving in the sky.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 2:10

2:10a You have plotted shame for your house by cutting off many peoples

Your (sing.) schemes brought shame on your house, because you killed many nations.
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You (plur.) planned to kill/destroy/ruin many nations, but instead you brought shame on your own families.
-or-

⌊But instead,⌋ their kingdom lost their honor because they killed/destroyed/ruined many nations.

2:10b and forfeiting your life.

This way you (sing.) brought ruin/destruction on yourself.
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You (plur.) will pay for this with your own lives.
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They themselves will be killed/destroyed/ruined.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 1:6

1:6a For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—

That is because I will cause the Babylonians/Chaldeans to become powerful.
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What I will do is give the Babylonians/Chaldeans ⌊ ⌋ power ⌊to fight against you (plur.) ⌋ .
-or-
I will cause the Babylonians/Chaldeans to become strong ⌊and attack/punish you⌋ .

1:6b that ruthless and impetuous nation

They are cruel and quickly to become violent people.
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They are quick to be cruel.
-or-

⌊Their armies⌋ race to opportunities to be violent/fierce.

1:6c which marches through the breadth of the earth

They will march across the world (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Their armies will go everywhere in the world
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They will go to war against many countries

1:6d to seize dwellings not their own.

to take for themselves houses which do not belong to them.
-or-
to conquer/capture other people’s homes ⌊and lands⌋ .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 3:1

Section 3:1-19

Habakkuk prayed to Yahweh

3:1a This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:

The prophet Habakkuk prays. According to shigionoth.⌊ ⌋
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Habakkuk, Yahweh’s speaker/representative, prays. ⌊People sing this prayer like they sing⌋ a shigionoth.
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I, Habakkuk, the one who brings/speaks words from Yahweh, address him.⌊ ⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 1:17

1:17a Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?

Will they continue ⌊to catch even more people⌋ with their net?

⌊In that way, will they continue⌋ to kill the nations without pity forever?
-or-
Will you (sing.) allow/let them ⌊to collect even more victims⌋ with their net? ⌊Will you (sing.) ⌋ always ⌊allow/let them in this way⌋ to destroy people of other nations without showing compassion/mercy?
-or-
Will they go on ⌊conquering people as a fisherman⌋ catches fish? Will they succeed forever in their conquests without any pity?

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 3:12

3:12a You marched across the earth with fury;

With fury, you (sing.) march through the earth.
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You will be furious, ⌊and so you⌋ will march through the earth.
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You will angrily walk/march around the earth.

3:12b You threshed the nations in wrath.

With anger, you (sing.) trample on the nations.
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You will be angry, ⌊and so you will punish the wicked⌋ nations ⌊by crushing them with your feet like/as people⌋ thresh ⌊grain⌋ .
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You will angrily ⌊crush⌋ the nations ⌊who did evil things. You will do that like people⌋ thresh ⌊grain⌋ .

3:12a-b (reordered)

You (sing.) are angry, so you crush the ⌊evil⌋ people of the world.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 2:11

2:11a For the stones will cry out from the wall,

⌊Even⌋ the stones from the walls ⌊of your (sing.) house⌋ will cry out against you.
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⌊It will be as if even⌋ stones from the walls ⌊in your (plur.) houses⌋ protested against you.
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It will be ⌊as though even⌋ the stones ⌊of their buildings⌋ accused them with a loud voice.

2:11b and the rafters will echo it from the woodwork.

And wooden beams will confirm ⌊their complaint⌋ .
-or-
And ⌊it will be as though⌋ the beams ⌊of the roofs/ceilings⌋ repeated this ⌊protest/accusation after the stones⌋ .

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Habakkuk 2020