Nahum 1

1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.2 Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.3 Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.7 Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him.8 But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.9 What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.10 For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.12 Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.14 And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.15 Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Nahum 1

Introduction

1 The oracle against Nineveh;t
the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:t

God Takes Vengeance against His Enemies

2 The Lord is a zealoust and avengingt God;
the Lord is avenging and very angry.t
The Lord takes vengeancet against his foes;
he sustains his raget against his enemies.

3 The Lord is slow to angert but great in power;ss
the Lord will certainly nott allow the wickedt to go unpunished.
He marches outt in the whirlwind and the raging storm;
dark storm clouds billow like dustt under his feet.t

The Divine Warrior Destroys His Enemies but Protects His People

4 He shouts a battle cryt against the seasand makes it dry up;t
he makes all the riverss run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;t
the blossom of Lebanon withers.

5 The mountains tremble before him,t
the hills convulse;t
the earth is laid wastet before him,
the world and all its inhabitantss are laid waste.t

6 No one can withstandt his indignation!t
No one can resistt his fierce anger!t
His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire,
boulders are broken upt as he approaches.t

7 The Lord is goodt –
indeed,t he is a fortresss in time of distress,s
and he protectst those who seek refuget in him.

8 But with an overwhelming floodt
he will make a complete end of Nineveh;s
he will drives his enemies into darkness.

Denunciation and Destruction of Nineveh

9 Whatevert you plott against the Lord, he will completely destroy!t
Distresss will not ariset a second time.

10 Surely they will be totally consumedt
liket entangled thorn bushes,ss
like the drink of drunkards,st
like veryst dry stubble.

11 From you, O Nineveh,t one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,
a wicked military strategist.t

Oracle of Deliverance to Judah

12 This is what the Lord says:s
“Even thought they are powerfult –
and what is more,t even though their army is numerouss –
nevertheless,t they will be destroyedts and trickle away!sts
Although I afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.t

13 And now,t I will break Assyria’st yoke barss from your neck;ts
I will tear apart the shackless that are on you.”t

Oracle of Judgment against the King of Nineveh

14 The Lord has issued a decree against you:t
“Your dynasty will come to an end.t
I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods.
I will desecratet your grave – because you are accursed!”t

Proclamation of the Deliverance of Judah

15 s Look! A herald is runningt on the mountains!
A messenger is proclaiming deliverance:t
“Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah!
Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God!s
For never agains will the wickedst Assyrianst invadet you,
theyt have been completely destroyed.”t