English: Easy to Read Version

[1] 1:1 prophet A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by "the prophets," who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say.

[2] 1:6 Babylonians Literally, "Chaldeans," a tribe of Arameans who gained control in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezar was from this tribe.

[3] 1:12 Lord, you are . never dies Or, "Lord, you have been my holy God forever! Surely we will not die."

[4] 1:12 Rock A name for God. It shows that he is like a fortress or a strong place of safety.

[5] 1:16 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[6] 1:16 incense Special dried tree sap that was burned to make a sweet-smelling smoke and offered as a gift to God.

[7] 2:2 Write down . easy to read Or, "Write the vision clearly on tablets so that the person who reads it can run [and tell other people]."

[8] 2:11 rafters Boards that support the roof.

[9] 2:14 Glory of the Lord One of the forms God used when he appeared to people. It was like a bright, shining light. In the book of Numbers it might have been a bright light or a tall cloud.

[10] 2:15 Like an angry drunk . bodies The Hebrew is hard to understand here.

[11] 3:1 Or, "The prayer of Habakkuk on the Shiggayon." The exact meaning of "Shiggayon" is not known.

[12] 3:2 Selah A word in psalms that was apparently for the singers or musicians, instructing them, perhaps, to pause or to get louder.

[13] 3:3 Teman An area in the northern part of Edom, although the name means "South."

[14] 3:3 Mount Paran This is probably an important mountain west of the Gulf of Aqaba and north of Mount Sinai.

[15] 3:5 This probably refers to the diseases and the Angel of Death that God sent against the Egyptians when God freed Israel from slavery.

[16] 3:9 rainbow . earth See Gen. 9.

[17] 3:13 chosen king Literally, "anointed one."

[18] 3:13 You killed . in the land Literally, "You struck the head from the evil house. From the foundation to the neck they were laid bare."