Nahum 1–2

1The oracle ^aconcerning Nineveh. ^bThe book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Vengeance

²The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce in ^cwrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against His foes; ^d

He is furious with His enemies. ^e

³The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. ^f

His path is in the whirlwind and storm, ^g

and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. ^h

⁴He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,

and He makes all the rivers run dry. ⁱ

Bashan and Carmel wither; ^j

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

⁵The mountains quake before Him,

and the hills melt;

the earth trembles ^klat His presence—

the world and all who live in it. ^m

⁶Who can withstand His indignation?

Who can endure His burning anger? ⁿ

His wrath is poured out like fire, ^o

even rocks are shattered before Him.

Destruction of Nineveh

⁷The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

He cares for those who take refuge ^pin Him.

⁸But He will completely destroy Nineveh ^q

with an overwhelming flood, ^r

and He will chase His enemies into darkness.

⁹Whatever you ^splot against the Lord,

He will bring it to complete destruction; ^t

oppression will not rise up a second time.

¹⁰For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns, ^u

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry. ^v

¹¹One has gone out from you, ^w

who plots evil against Yahweh,

and is a wicked counselor.

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

¹²This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong ^xand numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and he ^ywill pass away.

Though I have afflicted you, ^za

I will afflict you no longer. ^b

¹³For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

The Assyrian King’s Demise

¹⁴The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name. ^cd

I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image

from the house of your gods; ^e

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

^15fLook to the mountains—

the feet of one bringing good news ^g

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.

Attack against Nineveh

2One who scatters is coming up against you. ^h

Man the fortifications!

Watch the road!

Brace ⁱyourself!

Summon all your strength! ^j

²For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob, ^k

yes, ^lthe majesty of Israel,

though ravagers have ravaged them ^m

and ruined their vine branches. ⁿ

³The shields of his ^owarriors are dyed red;

the valiant men are dressed in scarlet. ^p

The fittings of the chariot flash like fire ^q

on the day of its battle preparations,

and the spears are brandished.

⁴The chariots dash madly through the streets;

they rush around in the plazas.

They look like torches;

they dart back and forth like lightning.

⁵He gives orders to his officers;

they stumble as they advance.

They race to its wall;

the protective shield is set in place.

⁶The river gates are opened,

and the palace erodes away. ^r

⁷Beauty ^sis stripped, ^t

she is carried away;

her ladies-in-waiting moan

like the sound of doves, ^u

and beat their breasts. ^v

⁸Nineveh has been like a pool of water

from her first days, ^w

but they are fleeing.

“Stop! Stop!” they cry,

but no one turns back.

⁹“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” ^x

There is no end to the treasure,

an abundance of every precious thing. ^y

¹⁰Desolation, decimation, devastation!

Hearts melt, ^z

knees tremble, ^a

loins shake, ^b

every face grows pale! ^c

¹¹Where is the lions’ lair, ^d

or the feeding ground of the young lions,

where the lion and lioness prowled,

and the lion’s cub,

with nothing to frighten them away? ^e

¹²The lion mauled whatever its cubs needed

and strangled prey for its lionesses.

It filled up its dens with the kill,

and its lairs with mauled prey. ^f

¹³Beware, I am against you. ^g

This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

I will make your chariots go up in smoke ^h

and the sword will devour your young lions. ⁱ

I will cut off your prey from the earth,

and the sound of your messengers

will never be heard again. ^j