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This is the vision God gave to Nahum, who lived in Elkosh, concerning the impending doom of Nineveh:[a]

God is jealous over those he loves; that is why he takes vengeance on those who hurt them. He furiously destroys their enemies. He is slow in getting angry, but when aroused, his power is incredible, and he does not easily forgive. He shows his power in the terrors of the cyclone and the raging storms; clouds are billowing dust beneath his feet! At his command the oceans and rivers become dry sand; the lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade away; the green forests of Lebanon wilt. In his presence mountains quake and hills melt; the earth crumbles, and its people are destroyed.

Who can stand before an angry God? His fury is like fire; the mountains tumble down before his anger.

The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is the place to go! And he knows everyone who trusts in him! But he sweeps away his enemies with an overwhelming flood; he pursues them all night long.

What are you thinking of, Nineveh, to defy the Lord? He will stop you with one blow; he won’t need to strike again. 10 He tosses his enemies into the fire like a tangled mass of thorns. They burst into flames like straw. 11 Who is this king[b] of yours who dares to plot against the Lord? 12 But the Lord is not afraid of him! “Though he build his army millions strong,” the Lord declares, “it will vanish.

“O my people, I have punished you enough! 13 Now I will break your chains and release you from the yoke of slavery to this Assyrian king.” 14 And to the king he says, “I have ordered an end to your dynasty; your sons will never sit upon your throne. And I will destroy your gods and temples, and I will bury you! For how you stink with sin!”

15 See, the messengers come running down the mountains with glad news: “The invaders have been wiped out and we are safe!” O Judah, proclaim a day of thanksgiving and worship only the Lord, as you have vowed. For this enemy from Nineveh will never come again. He is cut off forever; he will never be seen again.

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:1 Nineveh was the capital of Assyria.
  2. Nahum 1:11 Who is this king, implied in vv. 1 and 13, also in 3:18.

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.

12 Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Yahweh’s Wrath Against Nineveh

The [a](A)oracle of (B)Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Aleph

A (C)jealous and avenging God is [b]Yahweh;
Yahweh is (D)avenging and [c]wrathful.
Yahweh is (E)avenging against His adversaries,
And He keeps His anger for His enemies.
Yahweh is (F)slow to anger and great in power,
And Yahweh will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

Beth

In (G)whirlwind and storm is His way,
And (H)clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Gimel

He (I)rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
He dries up all the rivers.
(J)Bashan and Carmel languish;
The blossoms of Lebanon languish.

He

Mountains (K)quake because of Him,

Vav

And the hills (L)melt;
Indeed the earth is (M)upheaved by His presence,
The (N)world and all the inhabitants in it.

Zayin

(O)Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the (P)burning of His anger?

Heth

His (Q)wrath is poured out like fire,
And the (R)rocks are torn down by Him.

Teth

Yahweh is (S)good,
A strong defense in the day of distress,

Yodh

And (T)He knows those who take refuge in Him.
But with an (U)overflowing flood

Kaph

He will make a complete destruction of [d]its place
And will pursue His enemies into (V)darkness.

Whatever you (W)devise against Yahweh,
He will make a (X)complete destruction of it.
Distress will not rise up twice.
10 Like tangled (Y)thorns,
And like those who are (Z)drunken with their drink,
They are (AA)consumed
As stubble fully dried up.
11 From you has gone forth
One who (AB)devised evil against Yahweh,
A [e](AC)vile counselor.

12 Thus says Yahweh,

“Though they are at full strength and likewise many,
Even so, they will be (AD)cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you (AE)no longer.
13 So now, I will (AF)break his yoke bar from upon you,
And I will break your bands apart.”

14 And Yahweh has commanded concerning [f]you:
[g]There will (AG)no longer be seed from your name.
From the house of your gods,
I will cut off (AH)graven image and molten image.
I will prepare your (AI)grave,
For you are contemptible.”

15 [h]Behold, (AJ)on the mountains the feet of him who proclaims good news,
Who [i]announces peace!
(AK)Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;
Pay your vows.
For (AL)never again will the [j]vile one pass through you;
He is (AM)cut off completely.

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:1 Or burden
  2. Nahum 1:2 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  3. Nahum 1:2 Lit a possessor of wrath
  4. Nahum 1:9 Nineveh’s
  5. Nahum 1:11 Or worthless; Heb Belial
  6. Nahum 1:14 The king of Nineveh
  7. Nahum 1:14 Lit No more of your name will be sown
  8. Nahum 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Heb
  9. Nahum 1:15 Or causes peace to be heard
  10. Nahum 1:15 Or worthless; Heb Belial

God’s Mercy and Judgment

The [a]burden (A)against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Wrath on His Enemies

God is (B)jealous, and the Lord avenges;
The Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
The Lord is (C)slow to anger and (D)great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked.

(E)The Lord has His way
In the whirlwind and in the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of His feet.
(F)He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
And dries up all the rivers.
(G)Bashan and Carmel wither,
And the flower of Lebanon wilts.
The mountains quake before Him,
The hills melt,
And the earth [b]heaves at His presence,
Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.

Who can stand before His indignation?
And (H)who can endure the fierceness of His anger?
His fury is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are thrown down by Him.

(I)The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And (J)He knows those who trust in Him.
But with an overflowing flood
He will make an utter end of its place,
And darkness will pursue His enemies.

(K)What do you [c]conspire against the Lord?
(L)He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.
10 For while tangled (M)like thorns,
(N)And while drunken like drunkards,
(O)They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried.
11 From you comes forth one
Who plots evil against the Lord,
A [d]wicked counselor.

12 Thus says the Lord:

“Though they are [e]safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be (P)cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more;
13 For now I will break off his yoke from you,
And burst your bonds apart.”

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you:
[f]“Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.
Out of the house of your gods
I will cut off the carved image and the molded image.
I will dig your (Q)grave,
For you are (R)vile.”[g]

15 Behold, on the mountains
The (S)feet of him who brings good tidings,
Who proclaims peace!
O Judah, keep your appointed feasts,
Perform your vows.
For the [h]wicked one shall no more pass through you;
He is (T)utterly cut off.

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:1 oracle, prophecy
  2. Nahum 1:5 Tg. burns
  3. Nahum 1:9 Or devise
  4. Nahum 1:11 Lit. counselor of Belial
  5. Nahum 1:12 Or at peace or complete
  6. Nahum 1:14 Lit. No more of your name shall be fruitful
  7. Nahum 1:14 Or contemptible
  8. Nahum 1:15 Lit. one of Belial