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

The [a]burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah 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 upheaved 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 wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him. Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him. But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time. 10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed [b]utterly as dry stubble. 11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, [c]that counselleth [d]wickedness. 12 Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. [e]Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. 13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 And Jehovah hath given 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! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for [f]the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:1 Or, oracle concerning
  2. Nahum 1:10 Or, as stubble fully dry
  3. Nahum 1:11 Or, a wicked counsellor
  4. Nahum 1:11 Or, worthlessness. Hebrew Belial.
  5. Nahum 1:12 Or, So will I afflict thee, that I shall afflict etc.
  6. Nahum 1:15 Or, the man of worthlessness. Hebrew Belial.