Nahum 1
Expanded Bible
1 This is the ·message [oracle; burden] for the city of Nineveh [C the capital of the Assyrian empire]. This is the book of the vision of Nahum, ·who was from the town of Elkosh [L the Elkoshite; C of uncertain location].
The Lord Is Angry with Nineveh
2 The Lord is a ·jealous [zealous] God [Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Deut. 4:24; 5:9; Josh. 24:19] who ·punishes [avenges];
the Lord ·punishes [avenges] and is filled with ·anger [wrath].
The Lord ·punishes [takes vengeance on] ·those who are against him [his adversaries/enemies],
and he ·stays angry with [or vents his wrath against] his enemies.
3 The Lord ·does not become angry quickly [L is slow to anger; Ex. 34:6; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:15; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jon. 4:2],
and his power is great.
The Lord will not let the guilty go unpunished.
·Where the Lord goes, there are [L His way/path is in] whirlwinds and storms,
and the clouds are the dust beneath his feet [C God’s awesome power is seen in nature; the clouds are his chariot; Ps. 68:4; 104:3; Dan. 7:13; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7].
4 He ·speaks to [rebukes] the sea and makes it dry [Ps. 106:9; Matt. 8:26; Luke 8:24];
he dries up all the rivers.
The areas of Bashan and Carmel dry up,
and the ·flowers [blossoms] of Lebanon dry up [C areas known for their lush vegetation and fertile land].
5 The mountains ·shake [tremble] in front of him,
and the hills melt.
The earth ·trembles [heaves] ·when he comes [before him],
the world and all who live in it.
6 ·No one [L Who…?] can ·stay alive [withstand/stand before] ·when he is angry [his indignation/anger];
no one can ·survive [endure] his ·strong [fierce; burning] anger.
His ·anger [wrath] is poured out like fire;
the rocks ·are smashed by [crumble before] him.
7 The Lord is good,
·giving protection [a stronghold; refuge] in ·times [L the day] of trouble.
He ·knows [cares for] those who trust in him.
8 But like a ·rushing [overwhelming] flood,
he will ·completely destroy [make an end of] ·Nineveh [her place; C Nineveh was destroyed in 612 bc, after Nahum wrote];
he will ·chase [pursue] his enemies ·until he kills them [into darkness].
9 The Lord will completely destroy
·anyone making plans [or whatever you plot/conspire] against him.
Trouble will not come a second time.
10 Those people will be ·like tangled [or entangled among] thorns
or like people drunk from their wine;
they will be ·burned up quickly [consumed] like ·dry weeds [stubble].
11 Someone has come from ·Nineveh [L you]
who ·makes evil plans [plots evil] against the Lord
and gives wicked ·advice [counsel; strategy].
12 This is what the Lord says:
“Although Assyria ·is strong [or has allies] and has many people,
it will be ·defeated [destroyed] and ·brought to an end [pass away].
Although I have ·made you suffer, Judah [L afflicted you],
I will ·make you suffer [afflict you] no more.
13 Now I will ·free you from their control [L break his yoke from you]
and tear away your ·chains [shackles].”
14 The Lord has given you this command, Nineveh:
“You will not have ·descendants [L seed] to carry on your name.
I will ·destroy [L cut off] the ·idols [carved images] and metal images
that are in the ·temple [L house] of your gods.
I will ·make [prepare] a grave for you,
because you are ·wicked [vile; despicable].”
15 Look, there on the ·hills [mountains],
·someone is [L the feet of one] bringing good news [Is. 52:7]!
He is announcing peace!
Celebrate your ·feasts [festivals], people of Judah,
and ·give your promised sacrifices to God [L fulfill your vows].
The wicked will not come to attack you again;
they have been completely ·destroyed [L cut off].
Nahum 1
New American Standard Bible
God Is Awesome
1 The (A)pronouncement of (B)Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
2 A (C)jealous and avenging God is the Lord;
The Lord is (D)avenging and [a]wrathful.
The Lord takes (E)vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
3 The Lord is (F)slow to anger and great in power,
And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
In the (G)gale and the storm is His way,
And (H)clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 He (I)rebukes the sea and dries it up;
He dries up all the rivers.
(J)Bashan and Carmel wither,
The blossoms of Lebanon wither.
5 Mountains (K)quake because of Him,
And the hills (L)come apart;
Indeed the earth is (M)upheaved by His presence,
The (N)world and all the inhabitants in it.
6 (O)Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the (P)burning of His anger?
His (Q)wrath gushes forth like fire,
And the (R)rocks are broken up by Him.
7 The Lord is (S)good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And (T)He knows those who take refuge in Him.
8 But with an (U)overflowing flood
He will make a complete end of [b]its site,
And will pursue His enemies into (V)darkness.
9 Whatever you (W)devise against the Lord,
He will make a (X)complete end of it.
Distress will not rise up twice.
10 Like tangled (Y)thorns,
And like those who are (Z)drunken with their drink,
They are (AA)consumed
Like stubble completely dried up.
11 From you has gone out
One who (AB)plotted evil against the Lord,
A [c](AC)wicked counselor.
12 This is what the Lord says:
“Though they are at full strength and so they are many,
So also they will be (AD)cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you (AE)no longer.
13 So now, I will (AF)break his yoke from upon you,
And I will tear your shackles to pieces.”
14 The Lord has issued a command concerning [d]you:
“[e]Your name will (AG)no longer be perpetuated.
I will eliminate the (AH)carved image and the cast metal image
From the house of your gods.
I will prepare your (AI)grave,
For you are contemptible.”
15 [f]Behold, (AJ)on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace!
(AK)Celebrate your feasts, Judah,
Pay your vows.
For (AL)never again will the [g]wicked one pass through you;
He is (AM)eliminated completely.
Footnotes
- Nahum 1:2 Lit a possessor of wrath
- Nahum 1:8 I.e., Nineveh’s
- Nahum 1:11 Or worthless; Heb Belial
- Nahum 1:14 I.e., the king of Nineveh
- Nahum 1:14 Lit No more of your name will be sown
- Nahum 1:15 Ch 2:1 in Heb
- Nahum 1:15 Or worthless one; Heb Belial
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