Nahum 1

Introduction

1:1 The oracle against Nineveh;¹

the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:²

God Takes Vengeance against His Enemies

1:2 The Lord is a zealous³ and avenging⁴ God;

the Lord is avenging and very angry.⁵

The Lord takes vengeance⁶ against his foes;

he sustains his rage⁷ against his enemies.

1:3 The Lord is slow to anger⁸ but great in power;⁹

the Lord will certainly not¹⁰ allow the wicked¹¹ to go unpunished.

The Divine Warrior Destroys His Enemies but Protects His People

He marches out¹² in the whirlwind and the raging storm;

dark storm clouds billow like dust¹³ under his feet.¹⁴

1:4 He shouts a battle cry¹⁵ against the sea¹⁶and makes it dry up;¹⁷

he makes all the rivers¹⁸ run dry.

Bashan and Carmel wither;¹⁹

the blossom of Lebanon withers.

1:5 The mountains tremble before him,²⁰

the hills convulse;²¹

the earth is laid waste²² before him,

the world and all its inhabitants²³ are laid waste.²⁴

1:6 No one can withstand²⁵ his indignation!²⁶

No one can resist²⁷ his fierce anger!²⁸

His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire,

boulders are broken up²⁹ as he approaches.³⁰

1:7 The Lord is good³¹ –

indeed,³² he is a fortress³³ in time of distress,³⁴

and he protects³⁵ those who seek refuge³⁶ in him.

1:8 But with an overwhelming flood³⁷

he will make a complete end of Nineveh;³⁸

he will drive³⁹ his enemies into darkness.

Denunciation and Destruction of Nineveh

1:9 Whatever⁴⁰ you plot⁴¹ against the Lord, he will completely destroy!⁴²

Distress⁴³ will not arise⁴⁴ a second time.

1:10 Surely they will be totally consumed⁴⁵

like⁴⁶ entangled thorn bushes,⁴⁷

like the drink of drunkards,⁴⁸

like very⁴⁹ dry stubble.

1:11 From you, O Nineveh,⁵⁰ one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,

a wicked military strategist.⁵¹

Oracle of Deliverance to Judah

1:12 This is what the Lord says:⁵²

“Even though⁵³ they are powerful⁵⁴ –

and what is more,⁵⁵ even though their army is numerous⁵⁶ –

nevertheless,⁵⁷ they will be destroyed⁵⁸ and trickle away!⁵⁹

Although I afflicted you,

I will afflict you no more.⁶⁰

1:13 And now,⁶¹ I will break Assyria’s⁶² yoke bar⁶³ from your neck;⁶⁴

I will tear apart the shackles⁶⁵ that are on you.”⁶⁶

Oracle of Judgment against the King of Nineveh

1:14 The Lord has issued a decree against you:⁶⁷

“Your dynasty will come to an end.⁶⁸

I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods.

I will desecrate⁶⁹ your grave – because you are accursed!”⁷⁰

Proclamation of the Deliverance of Judah

1:15 (2:1)⁷¹ Look! A herald is running⁷² on the mountains!

A messenger is proclaiming deliverance:⁷³

“Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah!

Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God!⁷⁴

For never again⁷⁵ will the wicked⁷⁶ Assyrians⁷⁷ invade⁷⁸ you,

they⁷⁹ have been completely destroyed.”⁸⁰

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