Nahum 1
1
1The pronouncement#Is 13:1; 30:6; Jr 18:18; Ezk 12:10; Hab 1:1; Zch 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1 concerning Nineveh.#Jnh 3:3–4; 4:11; Nah 2:8; Zph 2:13 The 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#1:2 Lit is a master of wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;#Dt 32:35,41,43; Ps 94:1; 149:7; Is 1:24; 59:17; Jr 5:9,29; 9:9; 46:10; 50:15; 51:6,11,36; Ezk 25:14–17; Mc 5:15; 2Th 1:8; Heb 10:30
he is furious with his enemies.#Dt 6:15; Ps 94:1; Is 63:1–6; Jr 46:10; 50:28–29; Mc 5:15; Zph 1:18
3The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.#Ex 34:6–7; Nm 14:18
His path is in the whirlwind and storm,#Pr 1:27; 10:25; Is 66:15; Jr 4:13; Hs 8:7
and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.#Dt 33:26; Ps 68:4; 104:3; Mt 24:30; 26:64
4He rebukes the sea and dries it up,
and he makes all the rivers run dry.#2Sm 22:16; Ps 106:9; Is 50:2; Mt 8:26
Bashan and Carmel wither;#Is 33:9; Jr 50:19
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
5The mountains quake before him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles#1:5 Some emend to earth is laid waste#1:5 Lit lifts at his presence —
the world and all who live in it.#Jdg 5:5; Ps 18:7; 46:2–3; 97:5; Is 5:25; 64:1,3; Jr 4:24; Am 8:8; Mc 1:4
6Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his burning anger?#Ps 7:11; 69:24; 78:49; Jl 2:11; Mal 3:2
His wrath is poured out like fire;#Ps 21:9; Is 9:19; 30:30; Jr 4:4; Lm 4:11; Ezk 22:20; Zph 1:18
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#2Sm 22:3; Ps 17:7; 34:8 in him.
8But he will completely destroy Nineveh#1:8 Lit her place
with an overwhelming flood,#Nah 2:6
and he will chase his enemies into darkness.
9Whatever you#1:9 = Nineveh plot against the Lord,
he will bring it to complete destruction;#Ps 2:1–4
oppression will not rise up a second time.
10For they will be consumed
like entangled thorns,#Mal 4:1
like the drink of a drunkard
and like straw that is fully dry.#1:10 Hb obscure
11One has gone out from you,#1:11 Possibly Nineveh
who plots evil against the Lord,
and is a wicked counselor.
Promise of Judah’s Deliverance
12This is what the Lord says:
Though they are strong#1:12 Lit intact and numerous,
they will still be mowed down,
and he#1:12 Either the king of Assyria or his army will pass away.
Though I have punished you,#1:12 = Judah#Is 10:5–34
I will punish you no longer.#Ps 30:5; 103:9; Is 54:8
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.#1:14 Lit It will not be sown from your name any longer#Lv 20:3; 1Sm 24:21; Ps 89:4; Is 48:19; 66:22
I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image
from the house of your gods;#Dt 27:15; Jdg 18:14
I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.
15Look to the mountains —
the feet of the herald,#Is 52:7; 61:1; Rm 10:15
who proclaims peace.
Celebrate your festivals, Judah;
fulfill your vows.
For the wicked one will never again
march through you;
he will be entirely wiped out.
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers