The Prayer of Habakuk (Habak. 3)

LORD, thy answere I did heare,
And I grew therewith afear'd.
When the Times at fullest are,
Let thy Worke be then declar'd.
When the Time, LORD, full doth grow,
Then in Anger, Mercy show.

God Almightie, he came downe;
Downe he came from Theman-ward:
And the matchlesse Holy-one,
From Mount Paran forth appear'd,
Heau'n ore-spreading with his Rayes,
And Earth filling with his praise.

Sunne-like was his glorious Light:
From his Side there did appeare
Beaming Rayes that shined bright;
And his Pow'r he shrowded there:
Plagues before his face he sent:
At his Feete hot Coales there went.

Where he stood he measure tooke
Of the Earth, and view'd it well:
Nations vanisht at his looke;
Auncient Hils to powder fell:
Mountaines old cast lower were:
For, his waies eternall are.

Cushan Tents I saw diseas'd,
And the Midian Curtaines quake.
Haue the Flouds, Lord, thee displeas'd?
Did the Flouds thee angry make?
Was it else the Sea that hath
Thus prouoked thee to wrath?

For, thou rod'st thy Horses there,
And thy sauing-Charrets through:
Thou didst make thy bow appeare;
And thou didst performe thy Uowe:
Yea, thine Oath and Promise past
(To the Tribes) fulfilled hast.

Through the Earth thou riftes didst make.
And the Riuers there did flow:
Mountaines, seeing thee, did shake;
And away the Flouds did goe.
From the Deepe a voyce was heard;
And his hands on high he rear'd.

Both the Sunne and Moone made stay,
And remoou'd not in their Spheares:
By thine Arrowes light went they,
By thy brightly shining Speares:
Thou in wrath the Land didst crush,
And in rage the Nations thresh.

For thy Peoples safe releefe,
With thy Christ for ayd wentst thou:
Thou hast also pierc't the Chiefe
Of the sinfull Houshold through;
And displayd them, till made bare
From the Foot to Necke they were.

Thou, with Iauelines of their owne,
Didst their Armies Leader strike.
For, against me they came downe,
To deuoure me, wherle-winde like.
And they ioy in nothing more,
Then vnseene to spoile the Poore.

Through the Sea thou madst a way,
And didst ride thy Horses there,
Where great heapes of water lay.
I, the newes thereof did heare:
And the voyce my bowels shooke;
Yea, my lips a quiu'ring tooke.

Rottennesse my bones possest:
Trembling feare possessed me,
I that troublous day might rest.
For, when his approches be
Onward to the People made,
His strong Troups will them inuade.

Bloomelesse shall the Fig-tree bee:
And the Vine no fruit shall yeeld:
Fade shall, then, the Oliue tree:
Meat shall none be, in the Field.
Neither in the Fold, or Stall,
Flocke or Heard continue shall.

Yet, the LORD my ioy shall be:
And, in him I will delight:
In my GOD that saueth me;
GOD the LORD, my only might,
Who, my feete so guides, that I
Hinde-like, pace my Places-high.