nahum

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

1 
The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Vengeance

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce in[a] wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;

He is furious with His enemies.

3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,

and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

4 He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,

and He makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither;

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

5 The mountains quake before Him,

and the hills melt;

the earth trembles[b][c] at His presence—

the world and all who live in it.

6 Who can withstand His indignation?

Who can endure His burning anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire,

even rocks are shattered before Him.

Destruction of Nineveh

7 The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

He cares for those who take refuge in Him.

8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh[d]

with an overwhelming flood,

and He will chase His enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever you[e] plot against the Lord,

He will bring it to complete destruction;

oppression will not rise up a second time.

10 For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns,

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.[f]

11 One has gone out from you,[g]

who plots evil against Yahweh,

and is a wicked counselor.

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong[h] and numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and he[i] will pass away.

Though I have afflicted you,[j]

I will afflict you no longer.

13 For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

The Assyrian King’s Demise

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.[k]

I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image

from the house of your gods;

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

15 [l]Look to the mountains—

the feet of one bringing good news

and proclaiming peace!

Celebrate your festivals, Judah;

fulfill your vows.

For the wicked one will never again

march through you;

he will be entirely wiped out.

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:2 Lit is a master of
  2. Nahum 1:5 Some emend to earth is laid waste
  3. Nahum 1:5 Lit lifts
  4. Nahum 1:8 Lit her place
  5. Nahum 1:9 = Nineveh
  6. Nahum 1:10 Hb obscure
  7. Nahum 1:11 Possibly Nineveh
  8. Nahum 1:12 Lit intact
  9. Nahum 1:12 Either the king of Assyria or his army
  10. Nahum 1:12 = Judah
  11. Nahum 1:14 Lit It will not be sown from your name any longer
  12. Nahum 1:15 Nah 2:1 in Hb