| 1:1 |
An oracle concerning Nin′evehNineveh The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh |
| 1:2 |
The Lord is a jealous God and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies |
| 1:3 |
The Lord is slow to anger and of great mightin power and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty His way is in whirlwind and storm and the clouds are the dust of his feet |
| 1:4 |
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon fadeswithers |
| 1:5 |
The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth isheaves laid waste before him the world and all thatwho dwell thereinin it |
| 1:6 |
Who can stand before his indignation Who can endure the heat of his anger His wrath is poured out like fire and the rocks are broken asunderinto pieces by him |
| 1:8 |
But with an overflowing flood he will make a fullcomplete end of histhe adversaries and will pursue his enemies into darkness |
| 1:9 |
What do you plot against the Lord He will make a fullcomplete end; hetrouble will not takerise vengeanceup twicea onsecond his foestime |
| 1:10 |
LikeFor they are like entangled thorns like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like drystubble stubblefully dried |
| 1:11 |
DidFrom oneyou notcame comeone out from you who plotted evil against the Lord anda counseledworthless villainycounselor |
| 1:12 |
Thus says the Lord Though they beare strongat full strength and many they will be cut offdown and pass away Though I have afflicted you I will afflict you no more |
| 1:13 |
And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds asunderapart |
| 1:14 |
The Lord has given commandment about you: No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the gravencarved image and the moltenmetal image I will make your grave for you are vile |
| 1:15 |
Behold onupon the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidingsnews who proclaimspublishes peace Keep your feasts O Judah; fulfilfulfill your vows for never again shall the wickedworthless comepass againstthrough you; he is utterly cut off |
| 2:1 |
The shattererscatterer has come up against you Man the ramparts; watch the road; girddress yourfor loinsbattle; collect all your strength |
| 2:2 |
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel for plunderers have strippedplundered them and ruined their branches |
| 2:3 |
The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet The chariots flashcome likewith flameflashing whenmetal musteredon inthe arrayday he musters them; the chargerscypress prancespears are brandished |
| 2:4 |
The chariots ragerace inmadly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning |
| 2:5 |
TheHe officersremembers arehis summonedofficers; they stumble as they go they hasten to the wall; the manteletsiege tower is set up |
| 2:6 |
The river gates are opened; the palace ismelts in dismayaway; |
| 2:7 |
its mistress is stripped; she is carried off her maidensslave girls lamenting moaning like doves and beating their breasts |
| 2:8 |
Nin′evehNineveh is like a pool whose waters run away Halt Halt they cry; but none turns back |
| 2:9 |
Plunder the silver plunder the gold There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of everyall precious thingthings |
| 2:10 |
Desolate Desolation and ruin Hearts faintmelt and knees tremble; anguish is onin all loins; all faces grow pale |
| 2:11 |
Where is the lions den the cavefeeding place of the young lions where the lion broughtand hislioness preywent where his cubs were with none to disturb |
| 2:12 |
The lion tore enough for his whelpscubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh |
| 2:13 |
Behold I am against you saysdeclares the Lord of hosts and I will burn your chariots in smoke and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth and the voice of your messengers shall no morelonger be heard |
| 3:1 |
Woe to the bloody city all full of lies and bootyplunder— no end to the plunderprey |
| 3:2 |
The crack of the whip and rumble of the wheel galloping horse and bounding chariot |
| 3:4 |
And all for the countless harlotrieswhorings of the harlotprostitute graceful and of deadly charms who betrays nations with her harlotrieswhorings and peoples with her charms |
| 3:5 |
Behold I am against you saysdeclares the Lord of hosts and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will letmake nations look onat your nakedness and kingdoms onat your shame |
| 3:6 |
I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a gazingstockspectacle |
| 3:7 |
And all who look onat you will shrink from you and say Wasted is Nin′evehNineveh; who will bemoangrieve for her whenceWhere shall I seek comforters for heryou |
| 3:9 |
EthiopiaCush was her strength; Egypt too and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her helpers |
| 3:10 |
Yet she wasbecame carriedan awayexile; she went into captivity; her littleinfants ones were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; for her honored men lots were cast and all her great men were bound in chains |
| 3:11 |
You also will be drunken; you will bego dazedinto hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy |
| 3:13 |
Behold your troops are women in your midst The gates of your land are wide open to your foesenemies; fire has devoured your bars |
| 3:14 |
Draw water for the siege; strengthen your forts; go into the clay; tread the mortar; take hold of the brick mold |
| 3:15 |
There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off It will devour you like the locust Multiply yourselves like the locust; multiply like the grasshopper |
| 3:19 |
There is no assuagingeasing your hurt; your wound is grievous All who hear the news ofabout you clap their hands over you For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil |