48 The Hebrew word רֶמֶשׂ (remesh) usually refers to animals that creep, but here the referent seems to be marine animals that glide through the water (note the parallelism in the previous line). See also Ps 104:25.
49 Heb “he”; the referent (the Babylonian tyrant) has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. “The Chaldeans”; “The wicked foe”; “The enemy”). Babylonian imperialism is here compared to a professional fisherman who repeatedly brings in his catch and has plenty to eat.
50 Apparently two different types of fishing nets are referred to here. The חֵרֶם (kherem, “throw net”) was used by fishermen standing on the shore (see Ezek 47:10), while the מִכְמֶרֶת (mikhmeret, “dragnet”) was used by men in a boat. See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (), 165.
51 Heb “and he gathers.”
52 Heb “Therefore he is happy and rejoices.” Here two synonyms are joined for emphasis.
53 Heb “therefore.”
54 The fishing implements (throw net and dragnet) represent Babylonian military might. The prophet depicts the Babylonians as arrogantly worshiping their own power (sacrifices … burns incense, see also v. 11b).
55 Heb “for by them his portion is full [or, “fat”].”
56 Heb “and his food is plentiful [or, “fat”].”
57 Or “therefore.”
58 Heb “Will he then empty his throw net?” The words “continue to fill and” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
59 Or “continually.”
60 Heb “kill.”
61 Or “without showing compassion.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

You make mankind like the fish of the sea,

like crawling things that have no ruler.

He brings all of them up with a hook;

he drags them out with his net;

he gathers them in his dragnet;

so he rejoices and is glad.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and makes offerings to his dragnet;

for by them he lives in luxury,

and his food is rich.

Is he then to keep on emptying his net

and mercilessly killing nations forever?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You have made people like the fish in the sea,

like the sea creatures that have no ruler.

The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,

he catches them in his net,

he gathers them up in his dragnet;

and so he rejoices and is glad.

Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and burns incense to his dragnet,

for by his net he lives in luxury

and enjoys the choicest food.

Is he to keep on emptying his net,

destroying nations without mercy?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You have made mankind

like the fish of the sea,

like marine creatures that have no ruler.

The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,

catch them in their dragnet,

and gather them in their fishing net;

that is why they are glad and rejoice.

That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet

and burn incense to their fishing net,

for by these things their portion is rich

and their food plentiful.

Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?

NLTNew Living Translation

Are we only fish to be caught and killed?

Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?

Must we be strung up on their hooks

and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?

Then they will worship their nets

and burn incense in front of them.

“These nets are the gods who have made us rich!”

they will claim.

Will you let them get away with this forever?

Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

You make humankind like fish of the sea,

like crawling creatures that have no ruler among them.

He brings up all of them with a fishhook;

he drags them up with his fishnet,

and he gathers them in his dragnet.

Therefore, he rejoices and exults.

Therefore he sacrifices to his fishnet

and makes offerings to his dragnet,

for by them he makes a good living

and his food is rich.

Will he therefore empty his fishnet

and continually kill nations without showing mercy?

KJV 1900King James Version

And makest men as the fishes of the sea,

As the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

They take up all of them with the angle,

They catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag:

Therefore they rejoice and are glad.

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag;

Because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

Shall they therefore empty their net,

And not spare continually to slay the nations?

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