Nah 1 | HCSB | STEP | The oracle concerning Nineveh . The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite .

Nahum 1

Nahum

1 The ^{▼▼oracle: A prophetic speech of a threatening or menacing character, often against the nations}oracle concerning Nineveh. ^b The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Vengeance

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance
and is fierce in ^{▼▼Lit is a master of} wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;
He is furious with His enemies. ^d
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will never leave the ^{▼▼guilt/guilty: The liability to be punished for a fault, a sin, an act, or an omission unless there is forgiveness or atonement; the term normally concerns an objective fact, not a subjective feeling.}guilty unpunished. ^f
His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,
and He makes all the rivers run dry. ^g
Bashan and Carmel wither; ^h
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
5 The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles ^{▼▼Some emend to earth is laid waste
,} ^{▼▼Lit lifts} at His presence –
the world and all who live in it. ^k
6 Who can withstand His indignation?
Who can endure His burning anger? ^l
His wrath is poured out like fire,
even rocks are shattered before Him.

Destruction of Nineveh

7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
He cares for those who take refuge ^m in Him.
8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh ^{▼▼Lit her place}
with an overwhelming flood, ^o
and He will chase His enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever you ^{▼▼= Nineveh} plot against the Lord,
He will bring it to complete destruction; ^q
oppression will not rise up a second time.
10 For they will be consumed
like entangled thorns, ^r
like the drink of a drunkard
and like straw that is fully dry. ^{▼▼Hb obscure}
11 One has gone out from you, ^{▼▼Possibly Nineveh}
who plots evil against ^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh,
and is a wicked counselor.

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong ^{▼▼Lit intact} and numerous,
they will still be mowed down,
and he ^{▼▼Either the king of Assyria or his army} will pass away.
Though I have afflicted you, ^{▼▼= Judah
,} ^y
I will afflict you no longer. ^z
13 For I will now break off his yoke from you
and tear off your shackles.

The Assyrian King’s Demise

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring
to carry on your name. ^{▼▼Lit It will not be sown from your name any longer
,} ^ab
I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image
from the house of your gods; ^ac
I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.

15 ^{▼▼Nah 2:1 in Hb}Look to the mountains –
the feet of one bringing good news ^ae
and proclaiming peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah;
fulfill your vows.
For the wicked one will never again
march through you;
he will be entirely wiped out.