Nahum 1

Common English Bible

1 An oracle about Nineveh: the scroll containing the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Power of the creator

²The Lord is a jealous and vengeful God;
        the Lord is vengeful and strong in wrath.
    The Lord is vengeful against his foes;
        he rages against his enemies.
³The Lord is very patient but great in power;
        the Lord punishes.
    His way is in whirlwind and storm;
        clouds are the dust of his feet.
⁴He can blast the sea and make it dry up;
        he can dry up all the rivers.
    Bashan and Carmel wither;
        the bud of Lebanon withers.
⁵The mountains quake because of him;
        the hills melt away.
The earth heaves before him—
        the world and all who dwell in it.
⁶Who can stand before his indignation?
        Who can confront the heat of his fury?
    His wrath pours out like fire;
        the rocks are shattered because of him.
⁷The Lord is good,
        a haven in a day of distress.
    He acknowledges those who take refuge in him.
⁸With a rushing flood, he will utterly destroy her^[a] place
        and pursue his enemies into darkness.

A challenge to God’s enemies

⁹What are you plotting against the Lord?
        He is one who can annihilate!
        Distress will not arise twice.
¹⁰They are tangled up like thorns,
        like drunkards in their cups.
    They are consumed like stubble
        that is entirely dried up.
¹¹From you^[b] goes out
        one who plots evil against the Lord—
            a worthless counselor!

Reassurance for God’s people

¹²The Lord proclaims:
Though once they were a healthy and numerous force,
        they have been cut off and have disappeared.
I have afflicted you;
        I won’t afflict you further, Zion.^[c]
¹³Now I will break off his yoke from you
        and tear off your chains.

Assyrian king’s future doom

¹⁴The Lord has commanded concerning you:
        You will have no children to carry on your name.
    I will remove carved idol and cast image from the house of your gods;
        I will make your grave, for you are worthless.
¹⁵^[d] Look, on the mountains: the feet of a messenger who announces peace!
        Celebrate your festivals, Judah!
            Fulfill your solemn promises!
    The worthless one will never again invade you;
        he has been completely cut off.