Habakkuk chapter 1 and 2:1 Afterwords

Why is my translation different from the NRSV? 197 different roots are used in this chapter - a sizeable quick study. Yes - even when you have translated the whole Hebrew canon, every section is still a study - there's always something more to check in the puzzle.

One thing I noted when reading this section of the SimHebrew Bible: one has to ask whose voice is being heard in each section. There is a narrator in v 1, a plea from the prophet in vv 2-4, Verse 5 is recognition of the pending action of Yahweh - then the prophet switches into the voice of Yahweh in verses 6-11. Verse 12-17 is the prophet addressing Yahweh. Then verse 1 of chapter 2 is the prophet waiting for his own correction. I find it took time to get the sense of the voices. The NRSV is no easier to read and I think it distorts the content severely. As the preacher said before the service - it's not sinful mortals in the hand of an angry God, its angry (and sinful) mortals in the hands of a loving God. And anger is fine in its place - but we need a place to put it when our sense of justice and correction is exercised.

From the point of view of my style in deciphering a translation for the passage, I found these issues to be the most disappointing with respect to the NRSV.

Verse 1: NRSV: the oracle is a bad choice. This word is related to what is lifted up. So I use load (nwa)  to distinguish this word from burden (sbl) and also from oracle (nam). I suspect these differing roots used in different context and by different prophets are significant. They might be local idioms, historical development of the language, or a particular class of vision or speech-acts. Whatever it is, the Hebrew is a different word so the English should be also. You can check my usage via the glossary in the online concordance. [By the way, I have repaired all the root links to the glossary for the set of posts on the oratorio. My program was setting them for an e-book rather than for the blog. Sorry about that!]

Verse 7: NRSV has dignity for the rare stem pvg. But for the same word in Genesis they use stunned. Really! This too violates my sense of how a language speaks. I think it is unlikely that the Genesis usage needs to be so contradictory. While there is change over time, and variation within region or even from writer to writer, it takes more information than 6 uses to be quite so fickle with gloss choice. (Though I might fail this way occasionally too.)

Verse 12: NRSV has from of old or the like, it's fine and the same as the rendering in the Jerusalem Bible, but I don't see why. I wondered if the Masoretic tradition had decided that qdm might be always one way or the other, but I don't think so. The sense has to be determined from whatever one can tell from the context. The current threat is from the east - why change the point of view mid thought to remind us of the agelessness of God?

NRSV assumes rock is an invocation of God, OK if you like, but for correction they have punishment. When you find this p word in a translation of the Old Testament, cross it out. It just reflects a prejudiced and perverse mindset. Besides the fact that imputing a punishing mindset to God is inaccurate reporting, in this case particularly, the gloss must match what is used of the prophet in 2:1 where the same root is repeated a few verses later. I pointed this out in the prior post. I would chose correction or reproof. The sense of this root ick can also include referee. Again I have been careful to use different English roots for different Hebrew roots, respecting the words of the text. I also allow multiple related English words for a single Hebrew root. (My decisions are transparent in the concordance. I welcome informed feedback.)

As I pondered this passage, I thought Chaldea for me today is the threat of climate change, a devouring enemy if ever there was one, and clearly both a judgment and a call to correction - but emphatically not punishment. 

The service with its excellent music is available here. Push it ahead to the start at about 13 minutes in.

Habakkuk 1

The opening line of Habakkuk

Syllables: 459. Words: 197. Roots: 135. Root Recurrence: 48%. Average per verse: 5.5.

acl (2) adm aim al (3) alvh amn anh arx asp (2) at (2) ath avn awm awr az b bgd bly bria bva (2) bxr ci (5) ck cl (3) cmr (2) cn (5) ctr cwdi dg din 'thr gil grr gvi (3) hih hlc hm hnh hrg hva (3) ick icl ihvh (3) im ira irw isd ivm iwy ixa (3) kbqvq kch kdd klp klq kml kms (3) krm (3) krw kvl kvw kzh l (2) la (9) lcd lmh (2) lva mgmh mhr mlc mn (2) mrr mvt mwl nb't (4) nbia ngd nmr nwa (3) nwr nxk pnh prw (2) pvg pvw pyl (2) qdm (2) qdw q'tr qll qls qvm rah (3) rib riq rkb rkq rmw rvk rwy (2) ryy rzn spr svs tmh (2) tmid tvrh wbh wcn wdd wkq (2) wmk wmn wmy wp't (4) wvm wvy xbr xdiq (2) xvr ybr yd yin yl (5) ylh yml (2) ypr yql yrb yvp ywh zab zbk zv zyq

הַמַּשָׂא֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָזָ֔ה חֲבַקּ֖וּק הַנָּבִֽיא		1 The load which Habakkuk the prophet gazed on.
a hmwa awr kzh kbquq hnbia	13	hm/wa awr kzh kbqvq h/nbia
עַד־אָ֧נָה יְהוָ֛ה שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמָ֑ע אֶזְעַ֥ק אֵלֶ֛יךָ חָמָ֖ס וְלֹ֥א תוֹשִֽׁיעַ		2 How long please, Yahweh, will I cry and you will not hear? Will I appeal to you of violence and you will not save?
b yd-anh ihvh wivvyti vla twmy azyq aliç kms vla towiy	12 12	yd anh ihvh wvy\ti v/la t/wmy a/zyq al\ic kms v/la tv/wy
לָ֣מָּה תַרְאֵ֤נִי אָ֙וֶן֙ וְעָמָ֣ל תַּבִּ֔יט וְשֹׁ֥ד וְחָמָ֖ס לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וַיְהִ֧י רִ֦יב וּמָד֖וֹן יִשָּֽׂא		3 ♪B Why do you show me mischief and misery you make me notice, and devastation and violence before me? And there is contention and sentence borne.
g lmh trani avvn vyml tbi't vwod vkms lngdi vihi rib umdon iiwa	20 8	lmh t/ra\ni avn v/yml t/b+ v/wd v/kms l/ngd\i vi/hi rib vm/dvn i/wa
עַל־כֵּן֙ תָּפ֣וּג תּוֹרָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־יֵצֵ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח מִשְׁפָּ֑ט כִּ֤י רָשָׁע֙ מַכְתִּ֣יר אֶת־הַצַּדִּ֔יק עַל־כֵּ֛ן יֵצֵ֥א מִשְׁפָּ֖ט מְעֻקָּֽל		4 Therefore numbed is instruction and lasting judgment fails to emerge, for wickedness encircles the righteous one, therefore crooked judgment emerges.
d yl-cn tpug torh vla-iixa lnxk mwp't ci rwy mctir at-hxdiq yl-cn iixa mwp't myuql	14 18	yl cn t/pvg tvrh v/la ixa l/nxk m/wp+ ci rwy m/ctr at h/xdiq yl cn ixa m/wp+ m/yql
רְא֤וּ בַגּוֹיִם֙ וְֽהַבִּ֔יטוּ וְהִֽתַּמְּה֖וּ תְּמָ֑הוּ כִּי־פֹ֙עַל֙ פֹּעֵ֣ל בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם לֹ֥א תַאֲמִ֖ינוּ כִּ֥י יְסֻפָּֽר		5 See among the nations and take note and marvel with astonishment, for he worked a work in your days you would not have believed though it were recounted.
h rau bgoiim vhbi'tu vhitmhu tmhu ci-poyl poyl bimicm la taminu ci isupr	16 16	ra\v b/gvi\m vh/b+\v vh/tmh\v tmh\v ci pyl pyl b/im\icm la t/amnv ci i/spr
כִּֽי־הִנְנִ֤י מֵקִים֙ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים הַגּ֖וֹי הַמַּ֣ר וְהַנִּמְהָ֑ר הַֽהוֹלֵךְ֙ לְמֶרְחֲבֵי־אֶ֔רֶץ לָרֶ֖שֶׁת מִשְׁכָּנ֥וֹת לֹּא־לֽוֹ		6 For note me well, I raise up the Chaldeans, the bitter and swift nation, to rush into the broad land to possess dwellings that are not theirs.
v ci-hnni mqim at-hcwdim hgoi hmr vhnmhr hholç lmrkbi-arx lrwt mwcnot la-lo	18 15	ci h/n\ni m/qim at h/cwdi\m h/gvi h/mr vhn/mhr h/hvlc lm/rkb\i arx l/rw\t m/wcn\vt la l\v
אָיֹ֥ם וְנוֹרָ֖א ה֑וּא מִמֶּ֕נּוּ מִשְׁפָּט֥וֹ וּשְׂאֵת֖וֹ יֵצֵֽא		7 Horrible and feared it is. From this its judgment and its forbearance will emerge.
z aiom vnora hua mmnu mwp'to uwato iixa	6 11	aim vnv/ra hva m/mn\v m/wp+\v v/wa\tv ixa
וְקַלּ֨וּ מִנְּמֵרִ֜ים סוּסָ֗יו וְחַדּוּ֙ מִזְּאֵ֣בֵי עֶ֔רֶב וּפָ֖שׁוּ פָּֽרָשָׁ֑יו וּפָֽרָשָׁיו֙ מֵרָח֣וֹק יָבֹ֔אוּ יָעֻ֕פוּ כְּנֶ֖שֶׁר חָ֥שׁ לֶאֱכֽוֹל		8 And fleeter than leopards are its horses, and keener than wolves of evening, its cavaliers frisk about. And its cavaliers come from afar. They fly like an eagle hurrying to eat.
k vqlu mnmrim susiv vkdu mzabi yrb upwu prwiv uprwiv mrkoq iboau iyupu cnwr kw lacol	22 19	v/ql\v m/nmr\im svs\iv v/kd\v m/zab\i yrb v/pw\v prw\iv v/prw\iv m/rkq i/ba\v i/yp\v c/nwr kw l/acl
כֻּלֹּה֙ לְחָמָ֣ס יָב֔וֹא מְגַמַּ֥ת פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם קָדִ֑ימָה וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף כַּח֖וֹל שֶֽׁבִי		9 All for violence it comes, their faces pumped up as the east wind, and it gathers captives as in a dance.
't culo lkms iboa mgmt pnihm qdimh viasof ckol wbi	16 8	cl\h l/kms i/bva mgm\t pn\ihm qd\imh vi/asp c/kvl wb\i
וְהוּא֙ בַּמְּלָכִ֣ים יִתְקַלָּ֔ס וְרֹזְנִ֖ים מִשְׂחָ֣ק ל֑וֹ ה֚וּא לְכָל־מִבְצָ֣ר יִשְׂחָ֔ק וַיִּצְבֹּ֥ר עָפָ֖ר וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ		10 And it, among sovereigns, ridicules them, and the rule-makers laugh at it. Itself, at all enclosure it laughs and it accumulates dust and catches it.
i vhua bmlcim itqls vroznim mwkq lo hua lcl-mbxr iwkq vixbor ypr vilcdh	14 16	v/hva b/mlc\im it/qls v/rzn\im m/wkq l\v hva l/cl m/bxr i/wkq vi/xbr ypr vi/lcd\h
אָ֣ז חָלַ֥ף ר֛וּחַ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר וְאָשֵׁ֑ם ז֥וּ כֹח֖וֹ לֵאלֹהֽוֹ		11 ♪B Then it is renewed in spirit when it has passed through and been declared guilty. This is its power for its god.
ia az klf ruk viybor vawm zu coko laloho	12 6	az klp rvk vi/ybr v/awm zv ck\v l/al\hv
הֲל֧וֹא אַתָּ֣ה מִקֶּ֗דֶם יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י קְדֹשִׁ֖י לֹ֣א נָמ֑וּת יְהוָה֙ לְמִשְׁפָּ֣ט שַׂמְתּ֔וֹ וְצ֖וּר לְהוֹכִ֥יחַ יְסַדְתּֽוֹ		12 Are not you from the east, Yahweh my God, my Holy One? We will not die. Yahweh, for judgment, you have set it up, and for a rock of correction you have founded it.
ib hloa ath mqdm ihvh alohii qdowi la nmut ihvh lmwp't wmto vxur lhocik isdto	18 16	h/lva ath m/qdm ihvh alh\i qdw\i la n/mvt ihvh lm/wp+ wm\tv v/xvr lhv/ck isd\tv
טְה֤וֹר עֵינַ֙יִם֙ מֵרְא֣וֹת רָ֔ע וְהַבִּ֥יט אֶל־עָמָ֖ל לֹ֣א תוּכָ֑ל לָ֤מָּה תַבִּיט֙ בּֽוֹגְדִ֔ים תַּחֲרִ֕ישׁ בְּבַלַּ֥ע רָשָׁ֖ע צַדִּ֥יק מִמֶּֽנּוּ		13 Too clean of eyes than to see evil and you cannot notice misery? Why do you notice the treacherous? You are silent when wickedness swallows one more righteous than itself.
ig 'thor yiniim mraot ry vhbi't al-yml la tucl lmh tbi't bogdim tkriw bbly rwy xdiq mmnu	16 19	+hr yin\im m/ra\vt ry vh/b+ al yml la tv/cl lmh t/b+ bvgd\im t/krw b/bly rwy xdiq m/mn\v
וַתַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם כִּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם כְּרֶ֖מֶשׂ לֹא־מֹשֵׁ֥ל בּֽוֹ		14 And you make humanity as the fish of the sea, as a creeper that has no governor over it.
id vtywh adm cdgi him crmw la-mowl bo	10 6	vt/ywh adm c/dg\i h/im c/rmw la mwl b\v
כֻּלֹּה֙ בְּחַכָּ֣ה הֵֽעֲלָ֔ה יְגֹרֵ֣הוּ בְחֶרְמ֔וֹ וְיַאַסְפֵ֖הוּ בְּמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ עַל־כֵּ֖ן יִשְׂמַ֥ח וְיָגִֽיל		15 All of it with a fishhook brought up, it gullets them in utter destruction, and it gathers them into its own cravings, therefore it will be glad and it will rejoice.
'tv culo bkch hiylh igorhu bkrmo viasphu bmcmrto yl-cn iwmk vigil	24 7	cl\h b/kch h/ylh i/gr\hv b/krm\v vi/asp\hv bm/cmr\tv yl cn i/wmk vi/gil
עַל־כֵּן֙ יְזַבֵּ֣חַ לְחֶרְמ֔וֹ וִֽיקַטֵּ֖ר לְמִכְמַרְתּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י בָהֵ֙מָּה֙ שָׁמֵ֣ן חֶלְק֔וֹ וּמַאֲכָל֖וֹ בְּרִאָֽה		16 Therefore it will offer its utter destruction and burn incense to its own cravings, for in them is the oil of its share and its plenteous food.
'tz yl-cn izbk lkrmo viq'tr lmcmrto ci bhmh wmn klqo umaclo briah	16 16	yl cn i/zbk l/krm\v vi/q+r lm/cmr\tv ci b/hm\h wmn klq\v vm/acl\v bra\h
הַ֥עַל כֵּ֖ן יָרִ֣יק חֶרְמ֑וֹ וְתָמִ֛יד לַהֲרֹ֥ג גּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יַחְמֽוֹל ס		17 ♪f Will it therefore empty its utter destruction, and continually slay nations without pity?
iz hyl cn iriq krmo vtmid lhrog goiim la ikmol s	7 12	h/yl cn i/riq krm\v v/tmid l/hrg gvi\m la i/kml

Recurrence patterns: 

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	20	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Vs	Stem
המשא the load	▒																											1	נשא
יהוה Yahweh		▒																										2	יהוה
ולא and not			▒																									2	לא
אליך to you				▒																								2	אל
חמס violence					▒																							2	חמס
ולא and not			▒																									2	לא
למה why						▒																						3	למה
תראני do you show me							▒																					3	ראה
ועמל and misery								▒																				3	עמל
תביט you make me notice									▒																			3	נבט
וחמס and violence					▒																							3	חמס
ישא borne	▒																											3	נשא
על --										▒																		4	על
כן therefore											▒																	4	כן
ולא and fails			▒																									4	לא
יצא to emerge												▒																4	יצא
משפט judgment													▒															4	שפט
כי for														▒														4	כי
רשע wickedness															▒													4	רשע
את --																▒												4	את
הצדיק the righteous one																	▒											4	צדיק
על --										▒																		4	על
כן therefore											▒																	4	כן
יצא emerges												▒																4	יצא
משפט judgment													▒															4	שפט
ראו see							▒																					5	ראה
בגוים among the nations																		▒										5	גוי
והביטו and take note									▒																			5	נבט
והתמהו and marvel																			▒									5	תמה
תמהו with astonishment																			▒									5	תמה
כי for														▒														5	כי
פעל he worked																				▒								5	פעל
פעל a work																				▒								5	פעל
לא not			▒																									5	לא
כי though														▒														5	כי
כי for														▒														6	כי
את --																▒												6	את
הגוי the nation																		▒										6	גוי
לא not			▒																									6	לא
לו that are theirs																					▒							6	ל
הוא it is																						▒						7	הוא
ממנו from this																							▒					7	מן
משפטו its judgment													▒															7	שפט
ושאתו and its forbearance	▒																											7	נשא
יצא will emerge												▒																7	יצא
פרשיו its cavaliers																								▒				8	פרש
ופרשיו and its cavaliers																								▒				8	פרש
יבאו come																									▒			8	בוא
לאכול to eat																										▒		8	אכל
כלה all																											▒	9	כל
לחמס for violence					▒																							9	חמס
יבוא it comes																									▒			9	בוא
קדימה as the east wind																												9	קדם
ויאסף and it gathers																												9	אספ
והוא and it																						▒						10	הוא
משחק laugh																												10	שחק
לו at it																					▒							10	ל
הוא itself																						▒						10	הוא
לכל at all																											▒	10	כל
ישחק it laughs																												10	שחק
לאלהו for its god				▒																								11	אל
מקדם from the east																												12	קדם
יהוה Yahweh		▒																										12	יהוה
לא not			▒																									12	לא
יהוה Yahweh		▒																										12	יהוה
למשפט for judgment													▒															12	שפט
מראות than to see							▒																					13	ראה
והביט and you notice									▒																			13	נבט
אל --				▒																								13	אל
עמל misery								▒																				13	עמל
לא not			▒																									13	לא
למה why						▒																						13	למה
תביט do you notice									▒																			13	נבט
רשע wickedness															▒													13	רשע
צדיק one more righteous																	▒											13	צדיק
ממנו than itself																							▒					13	מן
לא without			▒																									14	לא
כלה all of it																											▒	15	כל
בחרמו in utter destruction																												15	חרם
ויאספהו and it gathers them																												15	אספ
במכמרתו into its own cravings																												15	כמר
על --										▒																		15	על
כן therefore											▒																	15	כן
על --										▒																		16	על
כן therefore											▒																	16	כן
לחרמו its utter destruction																												16	חרם
למכמרתו to its own cravings																												16	כמר
כי for														▒														16	כי
ומאכלו and its food																										▒		16	אכל
העל --										▒																		17	על
כן therefore											▒																	17	כן
חרמו its utter destruction																												17	חרם
גוים nations																		▒										17	גוי
לא without			▒																									17	לא