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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.

Nahum’s Vision

A pronouncement[a] about Nineveh: The record of the vision of Nahum[b] from Elkosh.

The Lord’s Anger against Assyria

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.
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.
He rebukes the sea, and it evaporates;
    he dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither,
    while the flowers of Lebanon languish.
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.
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

The Lord is good—
    a refuge in troubled times.[d]
He knows those who are confiding in him.
But with an overwhelming deluge he will bring utter desolation to Nineveh,[e]
    and his enemies he will pursue with darkness.
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

  1. Nahum 1:1 Or revelation
  2. Nahum 1:1 The Heb. name Nahum means comfort
  3. Nahum 1:3 The Heb. lacks the guilty
  4. Nahum 1:7 Or in a day of trouble
  5. Nahum 1:8 Lit. to its place
  6. Nahum 1:10 Lit. they
  7. Nahum 1:11 Or a worthless counselor; Lit. a counselor of Belial
  8. Nahum 1:12 The Heb. lacks they are
  9. Nahum 1:12 Lit. be cut down
  10. Nahum 1:12 The Heb. lacks you
  11. Nahum 1:13 Lit. his
  12. Nahum 1:14 The Heb. lacks Nineveh
  13. Nahum 1:14 Lit. sown
  14. Nahum 1:15 This verse is 2:1 in MT
  15. Nahum 1:15 Lit. It
  16. Nahum 1:15 Or has been