Jonah 1:1-2

New International Version

Jonah Flees From the Lord

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah^(A) son of Amittai:^(B) ²“Go to the great city of Nineveh^(C) and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

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Jonah 3

New International Version

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah^(A) a second time: ²“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

³Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. ⁴Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming,^(B) “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” ⁵The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.^(C)

⁶When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.^(D) ⁷This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.^(E) ⁸But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call^(F) urgently on God. Let them give up^(G) their evil ways^(H) and their violence.^(I) ⁹Who knows?^(J) God may yet relent^(K) and with compassion turn^(L) from his fierce anger^(M) so that we will not perish.”

¹⁰When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented^(N) and did not bring on them the destruction^(O) he had threatened.^(P)

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Nahum 1:7-9

New International Version

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

⁹Whatever they plot^(F) against the Lord
he will bring^[a] to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.

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Footnotes

Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it

Nahum 2

New International Version

Nineveh to Fall

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

²The Lord will restore^(B) the splendor^(C) 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.^(D)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.^[b]
⁴The chariots^(E) 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^(F) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.
⁶The river gates^(G) are thrown open
    and the palace collapses.
⁷It is decreed^[c] that Nineveh
    be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan^(H) like doves
    and beat on their breasts.^(I)
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,^(J) knees give way,
    bodies tremble, every face grows pale.^(K)

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

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

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Footnotes

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 3:18-19

New International Version

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