\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Nahum}

{\MT Nahum



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH The Burden against Nineveh
\par }
{\R (Jonah 1:1–3)

\par }{\MM \VerseOne{1}This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;

\par }{\QB the LORD is avenging and full of wrath.

\par }{\Q The LORD takes vengeance on His foes

\par }{\QB and reserves wrath for His enemies.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}The LORD is slow to anger

\par }{\QB and great in power;

\par }{\Q the LORD will by no means

\par }{\QB leave the guilty unpunished.

\par }{\Q His path is in the whirlwind and storm,

\par }{\QB and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}He rebukes the sea and dries it up;

\par }{\QB He makes all the rivers run dry.

\par }{\Q Bashan and Carmel wither,

\par }{\QB and the flower of Lebanon wilts.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}The mountains quake before Him,

\par }{\QB and the hills melt away;

\par }{\Q the earth trembles at His presence—

\par }{\QB the world and all its dwellers.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Who can withstand His indignation?

\par }{\QB Who can endure His burning anger?

\par }{\Q His wrath is poured out like fire;

\par }{\QB even rocks are shattered before Him.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}The LORD is good,

\par }{\QB a stronghold in the day of distress;

\par }{\QB He cares for those who trust in Him.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}But with an overwhelming flood

\par }{\QB He will make an end of Nineveh
\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:8 }{\FT{Literally of her place}}}

\par }{\QB and pursue His enemies into darkness.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}Whatever you plot against the LORD,

\par }{\QB He will bring to an end.

\par }{\Q Affliction will not rise up

\par }{\QB a second time.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}For they will be entangled as with thorns

\par }{\QB and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—

\par }{\QB like stubble that is fully dry.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}From you, O Nineveh, comes forth

\par }{\QB a plotter of evil against the LORD,

\par }{\QB a counselor of wickedness.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\MM \VS{12}This is what the LORD says:

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q “Though they are allied and numerous,

\par }{\QB yet they will be cut down and pass away.

\par }{\Q Though I have afflicted you, O Judah,

\par }{\QB I will afflict you no longer.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}For I will now break their yoke from your neck

\par }{\QB and tear away your shackles.”


\par }{\MM \VS{14}The LORD has issued a command concerning you, O Nineveh:

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q “There will be no descendants

\par }{\QB to carry on your name.

\par }{\Q I will cut off the carved image and cast idol

\par }{\QB from the house of your gods;

\par }{\Q I will prepare your grave,

\par }{\QB for you are contemptible.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}Look to the mountains—

\par }{\QB the feet of one who brings good news,

\par }{\QB who proclaims peace!

\par }{\Q Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;

\par }{\QB fulfill your vows.

\par }{\Q For the wicked will never again march through you;

\par }{\QB they will be utterly cut off.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH The Overthrow of Nineveh
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}One who scatters advances

\par }{\QB against you, O Nineveh.

\par }{\Q Guard the fortress!

\par }{\QB Watch the road!

\par }{\Q Brace yourselves!\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:1 }{\FT{Hebrew Strengthen your loins!}}}

\par }{\QB Summon all your strength!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob

\par }{\QB like the splendor of Israel,

\par }{\Q though destroyers have laid them waste

\par }{\QB and ruined the branches of their vine.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}The shields of his mighty men are red;

\par }{\QB the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet.

\par }{\Q The fittings of the chariots flash like fire

\par }{\QB on the day they are prepared,

\par }{\Q and the spears of cypress

\par }{\QB have been brandished.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:3 }{\FT{Hebrew; alternately, the spears may be of pine or juniper or fir; LXX and Syriac they are prepared, and the horsemen rush to and fro.}}}


\par }{\Q \VS{4}The chariots dash through the streets;

\par }{\QB they rush around the plazas,

\par }{\Q appearing like torches,

\par }{\QB darting about like lightning.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}He summons his nobles;

\par }{\QB they stumble as they advance.

\par }{\Q They race to its wall;

\par }{\QB the protective shield is set in place.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}The river gates are thrown open

\par }{\QB and the palace collapses.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}It is decreed that the city be exiled

\par }{\QB and carried away;

\par }{\Q her maidservants moan like doves,

\par }{\QB and beat upon their breasts.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Nineveh has been like a pool of water

\par }{\QB throughout her days,

\par }{\QB but now it is draining away.

\par }{\Q “Stop! Stop!” they cry,

\par }{\QB but no one turns back.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}“Plunder the silver!

\par }{\QB Plunder the gold!”

\par }{\Q There is no end to the treasure,

\par }{\QB an abundance of every precious thing.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}She is emptied!

\par }{\QB Yes, she is desolate and laid waste!

\par }{\Q Hearts melt, knees knock,

\par }{\QB bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Where is the lions’ lair

\par }{\QB or the feeding ground of the young lions,

\par }{\Q where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs,

\par }{\QB with nothing to frighten them away?


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The lion mauled enough for its cubs

\par }{\QB and strangled prey for the lioness.

\par }{\Q It filled its dens with the kill,

\par }{\QB and its lairs with mauled prey.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}“Behold, I am against you,”

\par }{\QB declares the LORD of Hosts.

\par }{\Q “I will send your chariots up in smoke,

\par }{\QB and the sword will devour your young lions.

\par }{\Q I will cut off your prey from the earth,

\par }{\QB and the voices of your messengers

\par }{\QB will no longer be heard.”




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Judgment on Nineveh
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Woe to the city of blood,

\par }{\QB full of lies,

\par }{\Q full of plunder,

\par }{\QB never without prey.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}The crack of the whip,

\par }{\QB the rumble of the wheel,

\par }{\Q galloping horse

\par }{\QB and bounding chariot!


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Charging horseman,

\par }{\QB flashing sword,

\par }{\QB shining spear;

\par }{\Q heaps of slain,

\par }{\QB mounds of corpses,

\par }{\Q dead bodies without end—

\par }{\QB they stumble over their dead—


\par }{\Q \VS{4}because of the many harlotries of the harlot,

\par }{\QB the seductive mistress of sorcery,

\par }{\Q who betrays nations by her prostitution

\par }{\QB and clans by her witchcraft.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}“Behold, I am against you,”

\par }{\QB declares the LORD of Hosts.

\par }{\Q “I will lift your skirts over your face.

\par }{\QB I will show your nakedness to the nations

\par }{\QB and your shame to the kingdoms.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}I will pelt you with filth

\par }{\QB and treat you with contempt;

\par }{\QB I will make a spectacle of you.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Then all who see you

\par }{\QB will recoil from you and say,

\par }{\Q ‘Nineveh is devastated;

\par }{\QB who will grieve for her?’

\par }{\Q Where can I find

\par }{\QB comforters for you?”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}Are you better than Thebes,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:8 }{\FT{Hebrew No-amon}}}

\par }{\QB stationed by the Nile with water around her,

\par }{\Q whose rampart was the sea,

\par }{\QB whose wall was the water?


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Cush
\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:9 }{\FT{That is, the upper Nile region}}} and Egypt were her boundless strength;

\par }{\QB Put and Libya were her allies.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Yet she became an exile;

\par }{\QB she went into captivity.

\par }{\Q Her infants were dashed to pieces

\par }{\QB at the head of every street.

\par }{\Q They cast lots for her dignitaries,

\par }{\QB and all her nobles were bound in chains.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}You too will become drunk;

\par }{\QB you will go into hiding

\par }{\QB and seek refuge from the enemy.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}All your fortresses are fig trees

\par }{\QB with the first ripe figs;

\par }{\Q when shaken, they fall

\par }{\QB into the mouth of the eater!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Look at your troops—

\par }{\QB they are like your women!

\par }{\Q The gates of your land

\par }{\QB are wide open to your enemies;

\par }{\QB fire consumes their bars.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}Draw your water for the siege;

\par }{\QB strengthen your fortresses.

\par }{\Q Work the clay and tread the mortar;

\par }{\QB repair the brick kiln!


\par }{\Q \VS{15}There the fire will devour you;

\par }{\QB the sword will cut you down

\par }{\QB and consume you like a young locust.

\par }{\Q Make yourself many like the young locust;

\par }{\QB make yourself many like the swarming locust!


\par }{\Q \VS{16}You have multiplied your merchants

\par }{\QB more than the stars of the sky.

\par }{\Q The young locust strips the land

\par }{\QB and flies away.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Your guards
\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 3:17 }{\FT{Or princes}}} are like the swarming locust,

\par }{\QB and your scribes
\FTNT{§}{{\FR 3:17 }{\FT{Or marshals}}} like clouds of locusts

\par }{\QB that settle on the walls on a cold day.

\par }{\Q When the sun rises, they fly away,

\par }{\QB and no one knows where.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;

\par }{\QB your officers sleep.

\par }{\Q Your people are scattered on the mountains

\par }{\QB with no one to gather them.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}There is no healing for your injury;

\par }{\QB your wound is severe.

\par }{\Q All who hear the news of you

\par }{\QB applaud your downfall,

\par }{\Q for who has not experienced

\par }{\QB your constant cruelty?

\par }