Habakkuk

Habakkuk is unusual: a prophet in dialogue with God, wrestling with hard questions. He asks why God tolerates violence and injustice in Judah, and is told the Babylonians will be his instrument of judgement — which only deepens the problem: how can God use a nation more wicked still?

God's answer is that the proud will fall but 'the righteous shall live by his faith' (2:4) — a line Paul makes central to the gospel. The book ends with a magnificent psalm of trust: even if the harvest fails and the flock is cut off, 'yet I will rejoice in the Lord' (3:18).