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

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

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

The 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)
The 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.
He 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.
The 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)
Who 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.

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

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

12 This 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)
13 Now I will break their yoke(AI) from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”(AJ)

14 The 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.”

15 Look, 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]

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it
  2. Nahum 1:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  3. Nahum 1:15 In Hebrew texts this verse (1:15) is numbered 2:1.

Ang mensahe ng aklat na ito ay tungkol sa Nineve.[a] Itoʼy ipinahayag ng Panginoon kay Nahum na taga-Elkosh.

Ang Galit ng Panginoon sa Nineve

Ayaw ng Panginoong Dios na sumamba ang mga tao sa ibang mga dios.[b] Galit siya sa kanyang mga kaaway at pinaghihigantihan niya sila. Ang Panginoon ay hindi madaling magalit, ngunit dakila ang kanyang kapangyarihan at tiyak na parurusahan niya ang nagkasala. Kapag dumadaan siya, umuugong ang hangin at bumabagyo. Ang mga ulap ay parang alikabok sa kanyang mga paa. Sa utos lamang niyaʼy natutuyo ang mga dagat at mga ilog. Nalalanta ang mga tanim sa Bashan, sa Bundok ng Carmel at sa Lebanon. Nayayanig ang mundo sa kanyang presensya, pati na ang mga bundok at mga burol, at ang mga tao sa mundo ay nanginginig. Sino ang makakatagal sa matinding galit ng Panginoon? Kapag siya ay nagalit, para siyang bumubuga ng apoy, at ang mga bato ay nabibiyak sa harap niya.

Ang Panginoon ay mabuti; matibay siyang kanlungan sa oras ng kagipitan, at inaalagaan niya ang nananalig sa kanya. Para siyang rumaragasang baha na lubusang pupuksain ang kanyang mga kaaway. Tutugisin niya sila hanggang sa mamatay.[c] Mga taga-Asiria, kung ano man ang masamang binabalak ninyo laban sa mga mamamayan ng Panginoon, wawakasan iyan ng Panginoon at hindi na mauulit pa. 10 Para kayong mga lasing na nakapulupot sa matinik na halaman. Lilipulin kayo na parang natutupok na dayami. 11 Ang isa sa inyong mga pinuno ay nagbalak ng masama laban sa mga mamamayan ng Panginoon. Masama ang kanyang ipinapayo.

12 Ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon sa mga taga-Juda: “Kahit na malakas at marami ang kalaban ninyong taga-Asiria, lilipulin ko sila hanggang sa mawala. Kahit na pinarusahan ko kayo, hindi ko na iyon uulitin pang muli. 13 Sapagkat palalayain ko na kayo ngayon mula sa kapangyarihan ng mga taga-Asiria.”

14 Ito naman ang sinasabi ng Panginoon sa mga taga-Asiria: “Mawawala ang lahi ninyo at wawasakin ko ang mga rebulto ninyong kahoy o metal sa templo ng inyong mga dios-diosan. Ihahanda ko na ang inyong mga libingan dahil hindi na kayo dapat mabuhay.”

15 Mga taga-Juda, tingnan ninyo ang kabundukan! Dumarating na ang mensaherong maghahatid ng magandang balita ng kapayapaan sa inyong bayan. Kaya ipagdiwang ninyo ang inyong mga pista, at tuparin ninyo ang inyong mga panata sa Panginoon. Sapagkat ang masamang bansa ng Asiria ay hindi na sasalakay sa inyo, dahil lubusan na silang lilipulin.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Nineve: Ito ang kabisera ng Asiria at kumakatawan sa buong bansa ng Asiria.
  2. 1:2 Ayaw … dios: sa literal, Ang Panginoon ay mapanibughuing Dios.
  3. 1:8 hanggang sa mamatay: sa literal, hanggang sa kailaliman; ang ibig sabihin, ang lugar ng mga patay.