Nahum 1

Superscription

1The oracle concerning Nineveh—

the scroll of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

Half-Acrostic: Yahweh Takes Vengeance against His Enemies

²Yahweh is a jealous God and avenging;

Yahweh is avenging and full of wrath.^a

Yahweh takes vengeance against his enemies;

he rages against his adversaries.

³Yahweh is slow to anger but great in power;

and Yahweh will certainly not allow the guilty to go unpunished.

He marches^b in storm wind and in gale;

storm clouds are the dust of his feet.

⁴He rebukes the sea and he dries up the rivers;

he makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither;^c

the blossom of Lebanon languishes.

⁵Mountains quake before him;

the hills shake apart.^d

The earth heaves before him—

the world and all her inhabitants.

⁶His indignation—who can stand before it?

Who can endure his fierce anger?^e

His wrath is poured out like fire;

rocks are shattered before^f him.

⁷Yahweh is good—a refuge in the day of distress;

he knows those who take refuge in him.

⁸But with a rushing torrent he will bring Nineveh to an end;

he will chase his enemies into darkness.

Yahweh Will Destroy Nineveh

⁹What^g do you plot against Yahweh?

He will completely destroy it;^h

trouble will not rise up a second time!

¹⁰For like entangled thorns,

and like their drink which is drunk,

they will be consumed like fully dry chaff.

¹¹From you goes out one who plots evil against Yahweh,

one who plans wickedness.

Yahweh Will Deliver Judah and Destroy Nineveh

¹²Yahweh says this:

“Even though they are powerful and likewise many,

even so they will be cut off and pass away.

Though I have afflicted you,ⁱ

I will afflict you^j no longer.

¹³And now, I will break his yoke from upon you;

I will snap your bonds.”

¹⁴Yahweh has commanded concerning you:

“Your name will no longer be sown.

I will cut off the idols and images^k from the temple^l of your gods;

I will send you to the grave^m because you are worthless.”

¹⁵ⁿ Look! On the mountains!

The feet of the one who brings good tidings,

the one who proclaims peace!

“Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,

Fulfill your vows!

For he will not invade you again;

the wicked one is cut off completely!”