Isaiah 10:5-34

New International Version

God’s Judgment on Assyria

⁵“Woe^(A) to the Assyrian,^(B) the rod^(C) of my anger,
    in whose hand is the club^(D) of my wrath!^(E)
⁶I send him against a godless^(F) nation,
    I dispatch^(G) him against a people who anger me,^(H)
to seize loot and snatch plunder,^(I)
    and to trample^(J) them down like mud in the streets.
⁷But this is not what he intends,^(K)
    this is not what he has in mind;
his purpose is to destroy,
    to put an end to many nations.
⁸‘Are not my commanders^(L) all kings?’ he says.
⁹    ‘Has not Kalno^(M) fared like Carchemish?^(N)
Is not Hamath^(O) like Arpad,^(P)
    and Samaria^(Q) like Damascus?^(R)
¹⁰As my hand seized the kingdoms of the idols,^(S)
    kingdoms whose images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria—
¹¹shall I not deal with Jerusalem and her images
    as I dealt with Samaria and her idols?^(T)’”

¹²When the Lord has finished all his work^(U) against Mount Zion^(V) and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria^(W) for the willful pride^(X) of his heart and the haughty look^(Y) in his eyes. ¹³For he says:

“‘By the strength of my hand^(Z) I have done this,^(AA)
    and by my wisdom, because I have understanding.
I removed the boundaries of nations,
    I plundered their treasures;^(AB)
    like a mighty one I subdued^[a] their kings.^(AC)
¹⁴As one reaches into a nest,^(AD)
    so my hand reached for the wealth^(AE) of the nations;
as people gather abandoned eggs,
    so I gathered all the countries;^(AF)
not one flapped a wing,
    or opened its mouth to chirp.^(AG)’”

¹⁵Does the ax raise itself above the person who swings it,
    or the saw boast against the one who uses it?^(AH)
As if a rod were to wield the person who lifts it up,
    or a club^(AI) brandish the one who is not wood!
¹⁶Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    will send a wasting disease^(AJ) upon his sturdy warriors;^(AK)
under his pomp^(AL) a fire^(AM) will be kindled
    like a blazing flame.
¹⁷The Light of Israel will become a fire,^(AN)
    their Holy One^(AO) a flame;
in a single day it will burn and consume
    his thorns^(AP) and his briers.^(AQ)
¹⁸The splendor of his forests^(AR) and fertile fields
    it will completely destroy,^(AS)
    as when a sick person wastes away.
¹⁹And the remaining trees of his forests^(AT) will be so few^(AU)
    that a child could write them down.

The Remnant of Israel

²⁰In that day^(AV) the remnant of Israel,
    the survivors^(AW) of Jacob,
will no longer rely^(AX) on him
    who struck them down^(AY)
but will truly rely^(AZ) on the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel.^(BA)
²¹A remnant^(BB) will return,^[b]^(BC) a remnant of Jacob
    will return to the Mighty God.^(BD)
²²Though your people be like the sand^(BE) by the sea, Israel,
    only a remnant will return.^(BF)
Destruction has been decreed,^(BG)
    overwhelming and righteous.
²³The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
    the destruction decreed^(BH) upon the whole land.^(BI)

²⁴Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:

“My people who live in Zion,^(BJ)
    do not be afraid^(BK) of the Assyrians,
who beat^(BL) you with a rod^(BM)
    and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.
²⁵Very soon^(BN) my anger against you will end
    and my wrath^(BO) will be directed to their destruction.^(BP)”

²⁶The Lord Almighty will lash^(BQ) them with a whip,
    as when he struck down Midian^(BR) at the rock of Oreb;
and he will raise his staff^(BS) over the waters,^(BT)
    as he did in Egypt.
²⁷In that day^(BU) their burden^(BV) will be lifted from your shoulders,
    their yoke^(BW) from your neck;^(BX)
the yoke^(BY) will be broken
    because you have grown so fat.^[c]

²⁸They enter Aiath;
    they pass through Migron;^(BZ)
    they store supplies^(CA) at Mikmash.^(CB)
²⁹They go over the pass, and say,
    “We will camp overnight at Geba.^(CC)”
Ramah^(CD) trembles;
    Gibeah^(CE) of Saul flees.^(CF)
³⁰Cry out, Daughter Gallim!^(CG)
    Listen, Laishah!
    Poor Anathoth!^(CH)
³¹Madmenah is in flight;
    the people of Gebim take cover.
³²This day they will halt at Nob;^(CI)
    they will shake their fist^(CJ)
at the mount of Daughter Zion,^(CK)
    at the hill of Jerusalem.

³³See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    will lop off^(CL) the boughs with great power.
The lofty trees will be felled,^(CM)
    the tall^(CN) ones will be brought low.^(CO)
³⁴He will cut down^(CP) the forest thickets with an ax;
    Lebanon^(CQ) will fall before the Mighty One.^(CR)

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Footnotes

Isaiah 10:13 Or treasures; / I subdued the mighty,
Isaiah 10:21 Hebrew shear-jashub (see 7:3 and note); also in verse 22
Isaiah 10:27 Hebrew; Septuagint broken / from your shoulders

Nahum 1-3

New International Version

1 A prophecy^(A) concerning Nineveh.^(B) The book of the vision^(C) of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

²The Lord is a jealous^(D) and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance^(E) and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.^(F)
³The Lord is slow to anger^(G) but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.^(H)
His way is in the whirlwind^(I) and the storm,^(J)
    and clouds^(K) are the dust of his feet.
⁴He rebukes^(L) the sea and dries it up;^(M)
    he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel^(N) wither
    and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
⁵The mountains quake^(O) before him
    and the hills melt away.^(P)
The earth trembles^(Q) at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.^(R)
⁶Who can withstand^(S) his indignation?
    Who can endure^(T) his fierce anger?^(U)
His wrath is poured out like fire;^(V)
    the rocks are shattered^(W) before him.

⁷The Lord is good,^(X)
    a refuge in times of trouble.^(Y)
He cares for^(Z) those who trust in him,^(AA)
⁸    but with an overwhelming flood^(AB)
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

⁹Whatever they plot^(AC) against the Lord
    he will bring^[a] to an end;
    trouble will not come a second time.
¹⁰They will be entangled among thorns^(AD)
    and drunk^(AE) from their wine;
    they will be consumed like dry stubble.^[b]^(AF)
¹¹From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
    who plots evil against the Lord
    and devises wicked plans.

¹²This is what the Lord says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed^(AG) and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.^(AH)
¹³Now I will break their yoke^(AI) from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”^(AJ)

¹⁴The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
    “You will have no descendants to bear your name.^(AK)
I will destroy the images^(AL) and idols
    that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,^(AM)
    for you are vile.”

¹⁵Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,^(AN)
    who proclaims peace!^(AO)
Celebrate your festivals,^(AP) Judah,
    and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;^(AQ)
    they will be completely destroyed.^[c]

Nineveh to Fall

2 ^[d]An attacker^(AR) advances against you, Nineveh.
    Guard the fortress,
    watch the road,
    brace yourselves,
    marshal all your strength!

²The Lord will restore^(AS) the splendor^(AT) of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.

³The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.^(AU)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.^[e]
⁴The chariots^(AV) storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

⁵Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble^(AW) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.
⁶The river gates^(AX) are thrown open
    and the palace collapses.
⁷It is decreed^[f] that Nineveh
    be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan^(AY) like doves
    and beat on their breasts.^(AZ)
⁸Nineveh is like a pool
    whose water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
    but no one turns back.
⁹Plunder the silver!
    Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
    the wealth from all its treasures!
¹⁰She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
    Hearts melt,^(BA) knees give way,
    bodies tremble, every face grows pale.^(BB)

¹¹Where now is the lions’ den,^(BC)
    the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
    and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
¹²The lion killed^(BD) enough for his cubs
    and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs^(BE) with the kill
    and his dens with the prey.^(BF)

¹³“I am against^(BG) you,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,^(BH)
    and the sword^(BI) will devour your young lions.
    I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
    will no longer be heard.”^(BJ)

Woe to Nineveh

3 Woe to the city of blood,^(BK)
    full of lies,^(BL)
full of plunder,
    never without victims!
²The crack of whips,
    the clatter of wheels,
galloping horses
    and jolting chariots!
³Charging cavalry,
    flashing swords
    and glittering spears!
Many casualties,
    piles of dead,
bodies without number,
    people stumbling over the corpses^(BM)—
⁴all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,
    alluring, the mistress of sorceries,^(BN)
who enslaved nations by her prostitution^(BO)
    and peoples by her witchcraft.

⁵“I am against^(BP) you,” declares the Lord Almighty.
    “I will lift your skirts^(BQ) over your face.
I will show the nations your nakedness^(BR)
    and the kingdoms your shame.
⁶I will pelt you with filth,^(BS)
    I will treat you with contempt^(BT)
    and make you a spectacle.^(BU)
⁷All who see you will flee^(BV) from you and say,
    ‘Nineveh^(BW) is in ruins^(BX)—who will mourn for her?’^(BY)
    Where can I find anyone to comfort^(BZ) you?”

⁸Are you better than^(CA) Thebes,^(CB)
    situated on the Nile,^(CC)
    with water around her?
The river was her defense,
    the waters her wall.
⁹Cush^[g]^(CD) and Egypt were her boundless strength;
    Put^(CE) and Libya^(CF) were among her allies.
¹⁰Yet she was taken captive^(CG)
    and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed^(CH) to pieces
    at every street corner.
Lots^(CI) were cast for her nobles,
    and all her great men were put in chains.^(CJ)
¹¹You too will become drunk;^(CK)
    you will go into hiding^(CL)
    and seek refuge from the enemy.

¹²All your fortresses are like fig trees
    with their first ripe fruit;^(CM)
when they are shaken,
    the figs^(CN) fall into the mouth of the eater.
¹³Look at your troops—
    they are all weaklings.^(CO)
The gates^(CP) of your land
    are wide open to your enemies;
    fire has consumed the bars of your gates.^(CQ)

¹⁴Draw water for the siege,^(CR)
    strengthen your defenses!^(CS)
Work the clay,
    tread the mortar,
    repair the brickwork!
¹⁵There the fire^(CT) will consume you;
    the sword^(CU) will cut you down—
    they will devour you like a swarm of locusts.
Multiply like grasshoppers,
    multiply like locusts!^(CV)
¹⁶You have increased the number of your merchants
    till they are more numerous than the stars in the sky,
but like locusts^(CW) they strip the land
    and then fly away.
¹⁷Your guards are like locusts,^(CX)
    your officials like swarms of locusts
    that settle in the walls on a cold day—
but when the sun appears they fly away,
    and no one knows where.

¹⁸King of Assyria, your shepherds^[h] slumber;^(CY)
    your nobles lie down to rest.^(CZ)
Your people are scattered^(DA) on the mountains
    with no one to gather them.
¹⁹Nothing can heal you;^(DB)
    your wound is fatal.
All who hear the news about you
    clap their hands^(DC) at your fall,
for who has not felt
    your endless cruelty?^(DD)

Footnotes

Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it
Nahum 1:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Nahum 1:15 In Hebrew texts this verse (1:15) is numbered 2:1.
Nahum 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:2-14.
Nahum 2:3 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac ready; / the horsemen rush to and fro.
Nahum 2:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Nahum 3:9 That is, the upper Nile region
Nahum 3:18 That is, rulers

Zephaniah 2:13-15

New International Version

Assyria

¹³He will stretch out his hand against the north
    and destroy Assyria,^(A)
leaving Nineveh^(B) utterly desolate
    and dry as the desert.^(C)
¹⁴Flocks and herds^(D) will lie down there,
    creatures of every kind.
The desert owl^(E) and the screech owl^(F)
    will roost on her columns.
Their hooting will echo through the windows,
    rubble will fill the doorways,
    the beams of cedar will be exposed.
¹⁵This is the city of revelry^(G)
    that lived in safety.^(H)
She said to herself,
    “I am the one! And there is none besides me.”^(I)
What a ruin she has become,
    a lair for wild beasts!^(J)
All who pass by her scoff^(K)
    and shake their fists.^(L)