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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.

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.(A)

The Consuming Wrath of God

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)
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)
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.
The mountains quake before him,
    and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who live in it.(D)

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)
The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
    even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries[a]
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.(F)
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)

15 [c]Look! On the mountains the feet of one
    who brings good tidings,
    who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
    they are utterly cut off.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 1.8 Gk: Heb of her place
  2. 1.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 1.15 2.1 in Heb