Historical
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].
Nineveh Will Be Defeated
2 The ·destroyer [attacker; scatterer] is coming ·to attack [against] ·you, Nineveh [L you; C the Babylonians and Medes destroyed Nineveh].
Guard the ·defenses [fortress; ramparts].
Watch the road.
·Get ready [T Gird your loins].
Gather all your strength!
2 ·Destroyers [Plunderers] have ·destroyed [plundered] God’s people
and ruined their vines,
but the Lord will ·bring back [restore] Jacob’s ·greatness [splendor; majesty]
like Israel’s ·greatness [splendor; majesty].
3 The shields of his soldiers are red [C either dyed red or splattered with blood];
the army is dressed in ·red [scarlet].
The metal on the chariots ·flashes like fire [shines; glistens]
·when [L on the day] they are ready to attack;
·their horses are excited [or their cypress spears are brandished].
4 The chariots ·race [storm; charge insanely] through the streets
and rush back and forth through the city squares.
They look like torches;
they run like lightning.
5 He [C probably the king of Assyria] ·calls [or remembers] his officers,
but they stumble on the way.
They hurry to the city wall,
and the ·shield [or siege tower] is put into place.
6 The river gates are thrown open,
and the palace ·is destroyed [collapses; dissolves; melts].
7 It has been ·announced [decreed] that ·the people of Nineveh [L she]
will be ·captured [exiled; or stripped; exposed] and carried away.
The slave girls moan like doves
and beat their breasts [C a sign of grief].
8 Nineveh is like a pool,
and now its water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” the people yell,
but no one turns back.
9 ·Take [Plunder] the silver!
·Take [Plunder] the gold!
There is no end to the treasure—
piles of wealth of every ·kind [precious/desirable thing].
10 ·Nineveh is robbed [L Empty!], ·ruined [desolate!], and destroyed.
·The people lose their courage [L Their hearts melt], and their knees knock.
·Stomachs ache [Bodies/Loins in anguish], and everyone’s face grows pale.
11 Where is the lions’ den [C the lion was a symbol of Assyria]
and the place where they feed their young?
Where did the lion, lioness, and cubs go
without being afraid?
12 The lion killed enough for his cubs,
·enough [L and strangled prey] for his ·mate [L lionesses].
He filled his cave with ·the animals he caught [prey];
he filled his den with ·meat he had killed [L torn (flesh)].
13 “I am against ·you, Nineveh [L you],”
says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,
and the sword will ·kill [devour] your young lions.
I will ·stop you from hunting down others on [L cut off your prey from] the earth,
and your messengers’ voices
will no longer be heard.”
It Will Be Terrible for Nineveh
3 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the city ·that has killed so many [L of blood].
It is full of lies
and ·goods stolen from other countries [plunder].
It is ·always killing somebody [L never empty of prey].
2 Hear the sound of whips
and the ·noise [rumble; shaking] of the wheels.
Hear horses galloping
and chariots bouncing along!
3 ·Horses [Cavalry; Horsemen] are charging,
swords are ·shining [flashing],
spears are gleaming!
Many are ·dead [slain];
their bodies are piled up—
too many to count.
People stumble over the dead bodies.
4 ·The city was like a prostitute [For her many acts of prostitution];
she was ·charming [graceful] and a ·lover of magic [L mistress of sorceries].
She made nations slaves with her prostitution
and her ·witchcraft [sorcery; charms].
5 “I am against ·you, Nineveh [L you],” says the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
“I will pull your dress up over your face
and show the nations your nakedness
and the kingdoms your shame [C the punishment of a prostitute in the ancient Near East].
6 I will throw filthy garbage on you
and ·make a fool of you [treat you with contempt].
I will make ·people stare at you [you a spectacle].
7 Everyone who sees you will ·run away [or turn away in disgust] and say,
‘Nineveh is in ruins. Who will ·cry [grieve; lament] for her?’
Nineveh, where will I find anyone to comfort you?”
8 You are no better than ·Thebes [L No Amon; C meaning “city of (the god) Amon”; This capital of Upper Egypt, thought to be impregnable, was destroyed by the Assyrians in 663 bc],
who sits by the Nile River
with water all around her.
The river was her ·defense [rampart];
the waters were like a wall around her.
9 Cush [C ancient Ethiopia or Nubia] and Egypt gave her endless strength;
Put and Libya supported her [C neighboring countries allied with Egypt].
10 But Thebes was captured
and went into ·captivity [exile].
Her ·small children [infants] were ·beaten to death [dashed to pieces]
at every street corner.
Lots were thrown for her ·important men [nobles; C parceled out as slaves],
and all of her ·leaders [great ones] were put in chains.
11 You [C Nineveh] will be drunk, too.
You will hide;
you will ·look for a place safe [seek refuge] from the enemy.
12 All your ·defenses [fortresses] are like fig trees with ripe fruit.
When the tree is shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
13 Look at your soldiers.
They are all women [C meaning helpless or physically weak]!
The gates of your land
are wide open for your enemies;
fire has ·burned [consumed; devoured] the bars of your gates.
14 ·Get enough water before the long war begins [Draw water for the siege].
Make your defenses strong!
Get mud,
mix clay,
·make bricks [strengthen the brickwork]!
15 There the fire will ·burn you up [consume/devour you].
The sword will ·kill you [cut you down];
·like grasshoppers eating crops, the battle will completely destroy you [it will devour you like locusts].
Grow in number like ·hopping [or young] locusts;
grow in number like ·swarming [or flying] locusts!
16 Your ·traders [merchants] are more than the stars in the sky,
but like locusts they ·strip the land [or shed their skin] and then fly away.
17 Your guards are like locusts.
Your officers are like swarms of locusts
that ·hang [settle; encamp] on the walls on a cold day.
When the sun comes up, they fly away,
and no one knows where they have gone.
18 King of Assyria, your ·rulers [L shepherds] are asleep;
your ·important men [nobles; officers] lie down ·to rest [or dead].
Your people have been scattered on the mountains [C like sheep],
and there is no one to ·bring them back [gather them].
19 Nothing can heal your wound;
your ·injury [wound] ·will not heal [is fatal].
Everyone who hears ·about you applauds [will clap their hands over you],
because ·everyone has [L who has not…?] felt your endless cruelty.
1 This is the ·message [oracle; burden] Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk Complains
2 Lord, how long must I ·ask [cry; call] for help
and you ·ignore [do not hear] me?
I cry out to you ·about violence [or “Violence!”],
but you do not ·save [rescue] us!
3 Why do you make me see ·wrong things [evil; iniquity; injustice]
and make me look at ·trouble [wrongdoing]?
·People are destroying things and hurting others [L Destruction and violence are] in front of me;
·they are arguing and fighting [L strife and conflict arise].
4 So the ·teachings [law; instruction; L Torah] are ·weak [paralyzed],
and justice never comes.
Evil people ·gain while good people lose [L surround/hem in the righteous];
·the judges no longer make fair decisions [L so justice is perverted].
The Lord Answers
5 “Look at the nations!
Watch them and be ·amazed and shocked [utterly astounded].
I will do something in your ·lifetime [L days]
that you won’t believe even when you are told about it.
6 I will ·use [raise up] the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans],
those ·cruel [ruthless; bitter] and ·wild [impetuous; hasty] people
who march across the earth
and ·take lands [L seize dwellings] that don’t belong to them.
7 They scare and ·frighten [terrify] people.
·They do what they want to do
and are good only to themselves [L Their justice/judgment and dignity proceed from themselves].
8 Their horses are faster than leopards
and ·quicker [fiercer] than wolves ·at sunset [L of the evening].
Their ·horse soldiers [cavalry] attack quickly;
they come from places far away.
They attack quickly, like an ·eagle [or vulture] ·swooping down for food [swift to devour].
9 They all come ·to fight [L for violence].
·Nothing can stop them [or …a horde moving like an east wind; or …their faces set forward].
Their prisoners are ·as many as the grains of [L like] sand.
10 They ·laugh at [mock] kings
and make fun of rulers.
They laugh at all the ·strong, walled [fortified] cities
and build ·dirt piles to the top of the walls [earthen siege ramps] to capture them.
11 Then they ·leave [sweep by] like the wind and move on.
They are guilty of ·worshiping their own strength [making their strength their god; or ascribing their strength to their gods].”
Habakkuk Complains Again
12 Lord, ·you live forever [L are you not from everlasting…?],
my God, my holy God.
We will not die.
Lord, you ·have chosen the Babylonians to punish people [appointed them for judgment];
our Rock [Ps. 61:2], you picked them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too ·good [pure] to look at evil;
you cannot ·stand to see [tolerate; look on] those who do wrong.
So how can you put up with those ·evil [treacherous] people?
How can you be quiet when the wicked swallow up people who are ·better [more righteous] than they are?
14 You ·treat [or made] people like fish in the sea,
like sea animals without a ·leader [ruler].
15 ·The enemy [L He] brings them in with hooks.
He catches them in his net
and ·drags [gathers] them in his ·fishnet [dragnet].
So he rejoices and ·sings for joy [is glad].
16 The enemy offers sacrifices to his net
and burns incense to ·worship it [L his dragnet],
because it lets him live ·like the rich [in luxury]
and enjoy ·the best [or plentiful] food.
17 Will he keep on ·taking riches with [L emptying] his net?
Will he go on destroying ·people [nations] without showing mercy?
2 I will stand like a guard to watch
and ·place [station] myself at the tower.
I will wait to see what he will say to me;
I will wait to learn how ·God will answer [or I will answer concerning] my complaint.
The Lord Answers
2 The Lord answered me:
“Write down the vision;
write it ·clearly [plainly] on clay tablets
so whoever reads it can run to tell others.
3 ·It is not yet time for the message to come true [L For the vision awaits an appointed time],
·but that time is coming soon [it hastens to the end; or it speaks about the end];
the message will ·come true [not lie].
·It may seem like a long time,
but [Though it tarries/lingers] be patient and wait for it,
because it will surely come;
it will not be delayed.
4 [L Look; T Behold] ·The evil nation [L He] is ·very proud of itself [puffed up];
·it [L his soul] is not ·living as it should [upright].
But ·those who are right with God [the righteous] will live ·by faith [or because of their faithfulness; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38].
5 “Just as wine ·can trick [betrays] a person,
those who are too proud will not ·last, [have rest; settle down]
·because their desire is like a grave’s desire for death [L he opens wide his throat like Sheol; C the grave or the underworld],
and like death they always want more.
They gather other nations for themselves
and collect for themselves all the ·countries [peoples].
6 But all ·the nations the Babylonians have hurt [L these] will ·laugh at [taunt] them.
They will ·make fun of the Babylonians [ridicule with riddles]
and say, ‘·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the one that ·steals many things [L piles up what is not his].
How long will that nation get rich by ·forcing others to pay them [extortion; goods taken in pledge]?’
7 “·One day the people from whom you have taken money will [L Will not your creditors…?] turn against you.
They will ·realize what is happening [L wake up] and make you shake with fear.
Then ·they will take everything you have [L you will become their plunder].
8 Because you have ·stolen from [plundered] many nations,
those who are left will ·take much from [plunder] you.
·This is because you have killed many people [For the human blood you have shed],
·destroying [violently attacking] countries and cities and everyone in them.
9 “·How terrible it will be for the nation [L Woe to him] that ·becomes rich by doing wrong [builds his house with unjust gain; or acquires evil gain for his own house],
thinking they will ·live in a safe place [L set his nest on high]
and escape ·harm [L the hand of evil].
10 Because you have ·made plans [plotted; schemed] to ·destroy [L cut off] many people,
you have brought shame to your house.
Because of it, you will ·lose your lives [forfeit your soul/life].
11 The stones of the walls [C of the “house” of Babylon] will cry out against you,
and the ·boards that support the roof [beams of the woodwork] will ·agree that you are wrong [echo the complaint; L answer back].
12 “·How terrible it will be for the nation [L Woe to him] that ·kills people [uses bloodshed] to build a city,
that ·wrongs others [uses injustice] to start a town.
13 [L Look; T Behold] The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] will send fire
to destroy what those people have built;
all the nations’ ·work [weariness] will be for nothing.
14 Then, just as water covers the sea,
·people everywhere will know [L the earth will be filled with the knowledge of] the Lord’s glory.
15 “·How terrible for the nation that [L Woe to him who] makes its neighbors drink,
pouring ·from the jug of wine [or out your wrath] until they are drunk
so that it can look at their naked bodies.
16 ·You Babylonians [L You] will be filled with ·disgrace [shame], not ·respect [glory].
It’s your turn to drink and ·fall to the ground [or expose your uncircumcision] like a drunk person.
The ·cup of anger [L cup; Jer. 25:15–29] from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you.
You will receive ·disgrace [shame], not ·respect [glory].
17 You ·hurt many people [did violence] in Lebanon,
but now you will be ·hurt [overwhelmed by it].
You killed many animals there,
and now you must be afraid
because of ·what you did [the blood and violence you did]
to that land, those cities, and the people who lived in them.
The Message About Idols
18 “·An idol does no good [L What value does an idol have…?], because a human made it;
it is only a ·statue [metal image] that teaches lies.
The one who made it ·expects his own work to help him [trusts in his own creation],
but he makes idols that can’t even speak!
19 ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the one who says to a wooden statue, ‘·Come to life [Wake up]!’
·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the one who says to a silent stone, ‘·Get up [Arise]!’
It cannot ·tell you what to do [teach/guide us].
It is only a statue covered with gold and silver;
there is no ·life [breath] in it.
20 The Lord is in his Holy Temple;
all the earth should be silent ·in his presence [before him].”
Habakkuk’s Prayer
3 This is the prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on shigionoth [C probably a literary or musical term].
2 Lord, I have heard the ·news [report] about you;
I am ·amazed [in awe; afraid] at what you have done.
Lord, do great things once again in ·our time [L the midst of the years];
make ·those things happen again [L them known] in ·our own days [L the midst of the years].
Even when you are angry,
remember to be ·kind [compassionate].
3 God is coming from Teman [C near Edom, south of Israel];
the Holy One comes from Mount Paran [C on the Sinai peninsula south of Israel; the language recalls God’s revelation at Mount Sinai; Deut. 33:2].
His glory covers the ·skies [heavens],
and his praise fills the earth.
4 He is like ·a bright light [flashing lightning; or brightness at dawn].
Rays of light ·shine [flash] from his hand,
and there he hides his power.
5 ·Sickness [Plague] goes before him,
and ·disease [pestilence] follows ·behind him [L at his feet].
6 He stands and ·shakes [or measures] the earth.
He looks, and the nations ·shake [or jump] with fear.
The ·mountains, which stood for ages, [eternal mountains] ·break into pieces [crumble];
the ·old [age-old; everlasting] hills ·fall [sink] down.
·God has always done this [Ancient paths/ways are his].
7 I saw that the tents of Cushan [C located in southern Transjordan] were in ·trouble [distress]
and that the ·tents [curtains] of the land of Midian trembled [Ex. 15:14–16; Josh. 2:9–10].
8 Lord, were you angry at the rivers,
or ·were you angry at [was your wrath against] the streams?
Were you ·angry [enraged] with the sea
when you rode your horses and chariots of victory?
9 You ·uncovered [pulled out; brandished] your bow
and commanded many arrows to be brought to you.
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw you and ·shook with fear [writhed; trembled].
The ·rushing [raging; torrents of] water ·flowed [swept by].
The ·sea [deep] ·made a loud noise [shouted; roared],
and ·its waves rose high [L lifted its hands high].
11 The sun and moon stood still in ·the sky [L lofty dwelling place];
they stopped when they saw the flash of your flying arrows
and the ·gleam [glint] of your ·shining [flashing] spear.
12 In ·anger [indignation] you marched on the earth;
in anger you ·punished [trampled; threshed] the nations.
13 You came out to ·save [rescue] your people,
to save your ·chosen one [anointed].
You crushed the ·leader [head] of the ·wicked ones [L house of the wicked]
and ·took everything he had [lay him bare], from ·head to toe [L foundation to neck].
14 With the enemy’s own ·spear [or arrows] you ·stabbed the leader of his army [L pierced his head; or pierced the heads of his soldiers/warriors].
His ·soldiers [warriors] rushed out like a storm to scatter us.
·They were happy [Rejoicing; Shouting with joy]
as they were ·robbing [plundering] the poor people in secret.
15 But you ·marched through [trampled on] the sea with your horses,
stirring the great waters.
16 I hear these things, and my body trembles;
my lips ·tremble [quiver] when I hear the sound.
My bones ·feel weak [L rot away],
and my legs shake.
But I will wait patiently for the day of ·disaster [calamity]
that will come to the people who ·attack [invade] us.
17 Fig trees may not ·grow figs [L blossom; bud],
and there may be no grapes on the vines.
·There may be no olives growing [L The produce of the olive fails/disappoints]
and no food growing in the fields.
There may be no sheep in the ·pens [fold]
and no cattle in the ·barns [stalls].
18 But I will still ·be glad [rejoice] in the Lord;
I will ·rejoice [be joyful] in God my Savior.
19 The Lord God is my strength.
He makes ·me like a deer that does not stumble [L my feet like a deer’s]
so I can walk on the ·steep mountains [heights].
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
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