Add parallel Print Page Options

A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. Yahweh[a] is a jealous God[b] and avenges. Yahweh avenges and is full of wrath. Yahweh takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies. Yahweh is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Yahweh has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes. The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him. Yahweh is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. What do you plot against Yahweh? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time. 10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble. 11 One has gone out of you who devises evil against Yahweh, who counsels wickedness. 12 Yahweh says: “Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. 13 Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.” 14 Yahweh has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, I will cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”

15 Behold,[c] on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.
  2. 1:2 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  3. 1:15 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

An oracle for Nineveh, a writing of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.

God’s Anger With Nineveh

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord takes vengeance on His enemies,
    and He reserves it for His adversaries;
the Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
    and the Lord will in no way acquit the guilty.
In gale winds and a storm is His way,
    and clouds are the dust of His feet.
He rebukes and dries up the sea,
    and He makes waterless all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither up,
    and the sprout of Lebanon wastes away.
The mountains quake before Him,
    and the hills melt;
the land rises up before Him,
    the earth and everything that dwells on it.
Who can stand before His anger?
    Who will rise up before His burning wrath?
His heat is poured out like fire,
    and the rocks are broken up before Him.

The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in the day of distress;
and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
    As a flood running forth,
He will bring to an end the distress,
    and He will pursue His adversaries into darkness.

Why do you all scheme against the Lord?
    He will bring it to an end.
    It will not rise up a second time.
10 Because they are like interwoven thorns
    and as drunkards imbibing,
    they are consumed like completely dry stubble.
11 Out of you, O Nineveh, comes one,
    a worthless counselor,
    who devises evil against the Lord.

12 So the Lord says:

“Even though they are full and many,
    they will be cut down, and it will pass away.
Even though I have afflicted you,
    I will no longer afflict you, O Judah;
13 now I will break apart his yoke from over you,
    and I will tear apart your bonds.”

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you:
    “No longer will your name go forth.
I will cut off the carved image and metal image
    from the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
    for you are despised.”

15 Look, on the mountains
    come the feet of him who brings good news,
    who proclaims peace!
Make your feasts, O Judah,
    and complete your vows.
For the wicked one will never again pass through your midst;
    he is completely cut down.