Nahum 1–2

1A prophecy^a concerning Nineveh.^b The book of the vision^c of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

²The Lord is a jealous^d and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance^e and is filled with wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance on his foes

and vents his wrath against his enemies.^f

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

the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.^h

His way is in the whirlwindⁱ and the storm,^j

and clouds^k are the dust of his feet.

⁴He rebukes^l the sea and dries it up;^m

he makes all the rivers run dry.

Bashan and Carmelⁿ wither

and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

⁵The mountains quake^o before him

and the hills melt away.^p

The earth trembles^q at his presence,

the world and all who live in it.^r

⁶Who can withstand^s his indignation?

Who can endure^t his fierce anger?^u

His wrath is poured out like fire;^v

the rocks are shattered^w before him.

⁷The Lord is good,^x

a refuge in times of trouble.^y

He cares for^z those who trust in him,^a

⁸but with an overwhelming flood^b

he will make an end of Nineveh;

he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

⁹Whatever they plot^c against the Lord

he will bring^a to an end;

trouble will not come a second time.

¹⁰They will be entangled among thorns^d

and drunk^e from their wine;

they will be consumed like dry stubble.^bf

¹¹From you, Nineveh, has one come forth

who plots evil against the Lord

and devises wicked plans.

¹²This is what the Lord says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,

they will be destroyed^g and pass away.

Although I have afflicted you, Judah,

I will afflict you no more.^h

¹³Now I will break their yokeⁱ from your neck

and tear your shackles away.”^j

¹⁴The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:

“You will have no descendants to bear your name.^k

I will destroy the images^l and idols

that are in the temple of your gods.

I will prepare your grave,^m

for you are vile.”

¹⁵Look, there on the mountains,

the feet of one who brings good news,ⁿ

who proclaims peace!^o

Celebrate your festivals,^p Judah,

and fulfill your vows.

No more will the wicked invade you;^q

they will be completely destroyed.^c

Nineveh to Fall

2^aAn attacker^r advances against you, Nineveh.

Guard the fortress,

watch the road,

brace yourselves,

marshal all your strength!

²The Lord will restore^s the splendor^t of Jacob

like the splendor of Israel,

though destroyers have laid them waste

and have ruined their vines.

³The shields of the soldiers are red;

the warriors are clad in scarlet.^u

The metal on the chariots flashes

on the day they are made ready;

the spears of juniper are brandished.^b

⁴The chariots^v storm through the streets,

rushing back and forth through the squares.

They look like flaming torches;

they dart about like lightning.

⁵Nineveh summons her picked troops,

yet they stumble^w on their way.

They dash to the city wall;

the protective shield is put in place.

⁶The river gates^x are thrown open

and the palace collapses.

⁷It is decreed^c that Nineveh

be exiled and carried away.

Her female slaves moan^y like doves

and beat on their breasts.^z

⁸Nineveh is like a pool

whose water is draining away.

“Stop! Stop!” they cry,

but no one turns back.

⁹Plunder the silver!

Plunder the gold!

The supply is endless,

the wealth from all its treasures!

¹⁰She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!

Hearts melt,^a knees give way,

bodies tremble, every face grows pale.^b

¹¹Where now is the lions’ den,^c

the place where they fed their young,

where the lion and lioness went,

and the cubs, with nothing to fear?

¹²The lion killed^d enough for his cubs

and strangled the prey for his mate,

filling his lairs^e with the kill

and his dens with the prey.^f

¹³“I am against^g you,”

declares the Lord Almighty.

“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,^h

and the swordⁱ will devour your young lions.

I will leave you no prey on the earth.

The voices of your messengers

will no longer be heard.”^j