Nahum 1–2

1Here is a message the Lord gave Nahum in a vision about Nineveh. It is written on a scroll. Nahum was from the town of Elkosh. Here is what he said.

The Lord Is Angry With Nineveh

²The Lord is a jealous God who punishes people.

He pays them back for the evil things they do.

His anger burns against them.

The Lord punishes his enemies.

He holds his anger back

until the right time to use it.

³The Lord is slow to get angry.

He is very powerful.

The Lord will not let guilty people go

without punishing them.

When he marches out, he stirs up winds and storms.

Clouds are the dust kicked up by his feet.

⁴He controls the seas. He dries them up.

He makes all of the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Mount Carmel dry up.

The flowers in Lebanon fade.

⁵He causes the mountains to shake.

The hills melt away.

The earth trembles because he is there.

So do the world and all those who live in it.

⁶Who can stand firm when his anger burns?

Who can live when he is angry?

His anger blazes out like fire.

He smashes the rocks to pieces.

⁷The Lord is good.

When people are in trouble,

they can go to him for safety.

He takes good care of those

who trust in him.

⁸But he will destroy Nineveh

with a powerful flood.

He will chase his enemies

into the darkness of punishment.

⁹The Lord will put an end

to anything they plan against him.

He won’t allow Assyria to win the battle

over his people a second time.

¹⁰His enemies will be tangled up among thorns.

Their wine will make them drunk.

They’ll be burned up like dry straw.

¹¹Nineveh, a king has marched out from you.

He makes evil plans against the Lord.

He gives harmful advice.

¹²The Lord says,

“His army has many soldiers.

Other nations are helping them.

But they will be cut off and pass away.

Judah, I punished you.

But I will not do it anymore.

¹³Now I will break Assyria’s yoke off your neck.

I will tear off the ropes that hold you.”

¹⁴Nineveh, the Lord has given an order concerning you.

He has said, “You will not have any children

to carry on your name.

I will destroy the wooden and metal statues

that are in the temple of your gods.

I will get your grave ready for you.

You are worthless.”

¹⁵Look at the mountains of Judah!

I see a messenger running to bring good news!

He’s telling us that peace has come!

People of Judah, celebrate your feasts.

Carry out your promises.

The evil Assyrians won’t attack you again.

They’ll be completely destroyed.

The Lord Will Destroy Nineveh

2Nineveh, armies are coming to attack you.

Guard the forts!

Watch the roads!

Get ready!

Gather all of your strength!

²Assyria once took everything of value from God’s people.

Its army destroyed all of their vines.

But the Lord will bring back

the glory of Jacob’s people.

He’ll make Israel glorious again.

³The shields of the soldiers attacking Nineveh are red.

The armies are dressed in bright red uniforms.

The metal on their chariots flashes

when they are prepared for war.

Their spears are ready to use.

⁴The chariots race through the main streets.

They rush back and forth through them.

They look like flaming torches.

They dart around like lightning.

⁵The commander of the attackers

sends for his special troops.

But they trip and fall on their way.

They run toward the city wall.

They keep their shield in front of them.

⁶They open the gates that hold back

the waters of the river.

And the palace falls down.

⁷The attackers order that the city’s people

be taken away as prisoners.

The female slaves cry like sad doves.

They beat their chests.

⁸Nineveh is like a pool.

Its water is draining away.

“Stop running away!” someone cries out.

But no one turns back.

⁹“Steal the silver!” the attackers shout.

“Grab the gold!”

The supply is endless.

There is plenty of wealth

among all of the city’s treasures.

¹⁰Nineveh is destroyed, robbed and stripped!

Hearts melt away in fear.

Knees give way.

Bodies tremble with fear.

Everyone’s face turns pale.

¹¹Assyria is like a lion.

Where is the lions’ den now?

Where did they feed their cubs?

Where did all of the lions go?

In their den they had nothing to fear.

¹²The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat.

He choked what he caught for his mate.

He filled his home with what he had killed.

He brought to his dens what he had caught.

¹³“Nineveh, I am against you,”

announces the Lord who rules over all.

“I will burn up your chariots with fire.

Your young lions will be killed with swords.

I will leave you nothing on earth to catch.

The voices of your messengers

will no longer be heard.”