Nahum 1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.(A)
The Consuming Wrath of God
2 A jealous and avenging God is the Lord;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and prolongs it against his enemies.(B)
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.(C)
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
and he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
5 The mountains quake before him,
and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
the world and all who live in it.(D)
6 Who can stand before his indignation?
Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.(E)
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
8 even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries[a]
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.(F)
9 Why do you plot against the Lord?
He will make an end;
no adversary will rise up twice.(G)
10 Like thorns they are entangled;
like drunkards they are drunk;
they are consumed like dry straw.(H)
11 From you one has gone out
who plots evil against the Lord,
one who counsels wickedness.(I)
Good News for Judah
12 Thus says the Lord:
Though they are at full strength and many,[b]
they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.(J)
13 And now I will break off his yoke from you
and snap the bonds that bind you.(K)
14 The Lord has commanded concerning you:
Your name shall be perpetuated no longer;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
the carved image and the cast image.
I will prepare your grave, for you are worthless.(L)
Nahum 1
International Standard Version
Nahum’s Vision
1 A pronouncement[a] about Nineveh: The record of the vision of Nahum[b] from Elkosh.
The Lord’s Anger against Assyria
2 A jealous God, the Lord avenges.
The Lord avenges;
The Lord is an angry husband.
The Lord takes vengeance on his enemies,
reserving anger for his adversaries.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and powerful,
and he will never let the guilty[c] go unpunished.
The Lord’s path is in the windstorm and hurricane;
thunderclouds are dust beneath his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea, and it evaporates;
he dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
while the flowers of Lebanon languish.
5 Mountains shake because of him,
and the hills melt.
The earth goes into upheaval at his presence,
as does the world with all of its inhabitants.
6 Who can stand before his fury?
And who can endure his fierce anger?
His displeasure pours out like fire,
and rocks are broken to pieces because of him.
The Lord’s Goodness in the Midst of Judgment
7 The Lord is good—
a refuge in troubled times.[d]
He knows those who are confiding in him.
8 But with an overwhelming deluge he will bring utter desolation to Nineveh,[e]
and his enemies he will pursue with darkness.
9 What are you scheming against the Lord?
He will bring about utter desolation—
adversity will not strike twice!
10 Indeed, while tangled as by a thorn bush,
while drunken as by a strong drink,
the Ninevites[f] will be burned like dry straw.
11 Someone has left you who plans evil against the Lord.
He is a demonic counselor.[g]
The Lord’s Rebuke to Assyria
12 This is what the Lord says:
“No matter how strong they are,[h]
and no matter how numerous,
they will surely be annihilated[i] and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,[j]
I will do so no more.
13 Now I will break off Assyria’s[k] yoke from you,
and tear apart your shackles.”
14 Now this is what the Lord has decreed about you, Nineveh:[l]
“There will be no more children born[m] to carry on your name.
I will cut out the graven and molten images from the temples of your gods.
I myself will dig your grave,
because you are vile.”
The Sure and Certain Deliverance of Judah
15 [n]Look! There on the mountains!
The feet of the one who brings good news,
who broadcasts a message of peace.
Judah, celebrate your solemn festivals
and keep your vows,
because the wicked will never again invade you.
Nineveh[o] will be[p] completely eliminated!
Footnotes
- Nahum 1:1 Or revelation
- Nahum 1:1 The Heb. name Nahum means comfort
- Nahum 1:3 The Heb. lacks the guilty
- Nahum 1:7 Or in a day of trouble
- Nahum 1:8 Lit. to its place
- Nahum 1:10 Lit. they
- Nahum 1:11 Or a worthless counselor; Lit. a counselor of Belial
- Nahum 1:12 The Heb. lacks they are
- Nahum 1:12 Lit. be cut down
- Nahum 1:12 The Heb. lacks you
- Nahum 1:13 Lit. his
- Nahum 1:14 The Heb. lacks Nineveh
- Nahum 1:14 Lit. sown
- Nahum 1:15 This verse is 2:1 in MT
- Nahum 1:15 Lit. It
- Nahum 1:15 Or has been
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