Nahum 1

1 The pronouncement  * 1:1 Is 13:1; 30:6; Jr 18:18; Ezk 12:10; Hab 1:1; Zch 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1 concerning Nineveh.  * 1:1 Jnh 3:3–4; 4:11; Nah 2:8; Zph 2:13 The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Vengeance

2 The 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;  * 1:2 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.  * 1:2 Dt 6:15; Ps 94:1; Is 63:1–6; Jr 46:10; 50:28–29; Mc 5:15; Zph 1:18

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

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.  * 1:3 Ex 34:6–7; Nm 14:18

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,  * 1:3 Pr 1:27; 10:25; Is 66:15; Jr 4:13; Hs 8:7

and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.  * 1:3 Dt 33:26; Ps 68:4; 104:3; Mt 24:30; 26:64

4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up,

and he makes all the rivers run dry.  * 1:4 2Sm 22:16; Ps 106:9; Is 50:2; Mt 8:26

Bashan and Carmel wither;  * 1:4 Is 33:9; Jr 50:19

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

5 The 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.  * 1:5 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

6 Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his burning anger?  * 1:6 Ps 7:11; 69:24; 78:49; Jl 2:11; Mal 3:2

His wrath is poured out like fire;  * 1:6 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

7 The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

he cares for those who take refuge  * 1:7 2Sm 22:3; Ps 17:7; 34:8 in him.

8 But he will completely destroy Nineveh  * 1:8 Lit her place

with an overwhelming flood,  * 1:8 Nah 2:6

and he will chase his enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever you  * 1:9 = Nineveh plot against the  Lord,

he will bring it to complete destruction;  * 1:9 Ps 2:1–4

oppression will not rise up a second time.

10 For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns,  * 1:10 Mal 4:1

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.  * 1:10 Hb obscure

11 One 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

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong  * 1:12 Litintact 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,* 1:12 Is 10:5–34

I will punish you no longer.  * 1:12 Ps 30:5; 103:9; Is 54:8

13 For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

The Assyrian King’s Demise

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.  * 1:14 LitIt will not be sown from your name any longer,* 1:14 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;  * 1:14 Dt 27:15; Jdg 18:14

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

15 Look to the mountains —

the feet of the herald,  * 1:15 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.