\NormalFont\ShortTitle{NAHUM}

{\MTB This book contains the account of Nahum foretelling about Nineveh and the Assyrian people being destroyed. We call this book

\par }{\MT Nahum



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{I am}} Nahum, from Elkosh
{\ADD{village}}.
{\ADD{This is}} a message about Nineveh
{\ADD{city, the capital of Assyria that was given}} to me in a vision
{\ADD{by Yahweh}}.


\par }{\SH Yahweh is angry with the people of Nineveh
\par }
{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh our God ◄is jealous/does not want people to worship any other god►.

\par }{\QB He is very angry
{\ADD{with those who worship other gods}},

\par }{\Q and he gets revenge [DOU]
{\ADD{on all}} those who oppose him [DOU].


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Yahweh does not quickly become angry;

\par }{\QB but he is very powerful,

\par }{\Q and he will certainly punish [LIT] those who have done evil things [MTY].

\par }{\Q He shows his power by sending whirlwinds and storms,

\par }{\QB and clouds are
{\ADD{like}} [MET] the dust
{\ADD{stirred up by}} his feet.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}When he commands oceans and rivers to become dry,

\par }{\QB they dry up.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{He causes the grass in the fields in}} the Bashan
{\ADD{region}} and
{\ADD{on the slopes of}} Carmel
{\ADD{Mountain}} to wither,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and causes}} the flowers in Lebanon to fade.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}When he appears,
{\ADD{it is as though}} the mountains shake and the hills melt;

\par }{\QB the earth quakes and
{\ADD{the people on}} the earth tremble.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}There is no one [RHQ] who can resist him when he becomes extremely angry;

\par }{\QB there is no one [RHQ] who can survive when his anger is very hot.

\par }{\Q When he is very angry,
{\ADD{it is as though}} his anger is like [SIM] a blazing fire,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{it is as though}} mountains are shattered into pieces.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}But he is good;

\par }{\QB he protects
{\ADD{us his people}} when we experience troubles.

\par }{\Q He takes care of those who trust in him.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}But he will get rid of his enemies;

\par }{\QB he will be to them
{\ADD{like}} [MET] a flood that destroys everything.

\par }{\Q He will chase his enemies

\par }{\QB into the darkness
{\ADD{of the place where the dead are}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{So}}, it is useless [RHQ] for you
{\ADD{people of Nineveh}} to plot against Yahweh.

\par }{\QB He will not
{\ADD{need to}} strike you two times to destroy you;

\par }{\QB he will destroy you
{\ADD{by striking you only once}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{It will be as though his enemies}} are tangled in thorns,

\par }{\QB and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine.

\par }{\QB They will be burned up like [SIM] a fire completely burns up stubble/straw.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}In Nineveh
{\ADD{city}} there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things to Yahweh.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}But this is what Yahweh says
{\ADD{about you Israeli people}}:

\par }{\Q “Although the people of Assyria have very many people and their army is very powerful,

\par }{\QB they will be destroyed and will disappear.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{I say to my people in Judah,}}

\par }{\QB ‘ have
{\ADD{already}} punished you,

\par }{\QB but I will not punish you again.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Now I will cause the
{\ADD{people of Assyria}} to no longer control/oppress you [MET];

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it will be as though}} I will tear off the shackles/chains on your
{\ADD{hands and feet}}.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{And this is what}} Yahweh also declares about you people of Nineveh:

\par }{\QB “You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names.

\par }{\Q And I will destroy all the statues of your gods

\par }{\QB that were carved or formed in molds.

\par }{\Q I will cause you
{\ADD{to be killed and}} sent to your graves,

\par }{\QB because you are vile/despicable!”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{You people of Judah,}} look! A messenger will be coming across the mountains,

\par }{\QB and he [SYN] will be bringing good news
{\ADD{to you}}.

\par }{\QB He will be declaring
{\ADD{that you will now have}} peace
{\ADD{because Assyria will have been conquered}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{So,}} celebrate your festivals,

\par }{\QB and do what you solemnly promised to do
{\ADD{when your enemies were threatening to attack you}},

\par }{\Q because your wicked
{\ADD{enemies}} will not invade your country again,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{because}} they will be completely destroyed.




\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Nineveh will be destroyed
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{You people of}} [APO] Nineveh,

\par }{\QB your enemies are coming to attack you.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{So}} place guards on the tops of the walls around the city!

\par }{\QB Guard the roads
{\ADD{into the city}}!

\par }{\QB Get ready to fight!

\par }{\QB Gather your troops/soldiers [MTY] together!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}Even though enemy soldiers have destroyed the descendants of [MTY] Jacob,

\par }{\QB Yahweh will cause them to be honored again.

\par }{\Q Israel is like a grapevine that has been ruined,

\par }{\QB but Israel will prosper again.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}The shields of the enemy soldiers
{\ADD{who are coming to attack you}} will shine red
{\ADD{as the sun shines on them}},

\par }{\QB and they will wear bright red uniforms.

\par }{\Q The metal of their chariot
{\ADD{wheels}} will flash when they line up
{\ADD{before the battle}},

\par }{\QB and their soldiers will lift up their cypress/pine spears and wave them.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Their chariots will dash through the streets
{\ADD{of Nineveh}}

\par }{\QB and rush furiously through the plazas.

\par }{\Q Going as quick as lightning,

\par }{\QB they will resemble flaming torches.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{Meanwhile}}, your king will summon his officers

\par }{\QB who will stumble as they
{\ADD{try to}} come
{\ADD{quickly}}.

\par }{\Q They will dash to the
{\ADD{city}} wall,

\par }{\QB holding their shields to protect themselves.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}But, the gates
{\ADD{of the dams}} on the rivers will be thrown open
{\ADD{by enemy soldiers}},

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{the flood will cause}} the palace to collapse.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}The queen will have her clothes stripped off her
{\ADD{by enemy soldiers}},

\par }{\QB and her slave girls will moan like doves

\par }{\QB and beat their breasts
{\ADD{to show that they are very sad}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{The people will rush from}} Nineveh

\par }{\QB like [SIM] water rushes from a broken dam.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{The officials}} will shout, “Stop! Stop!”

\par }{\QB but the people will not even look back
{\ADD{as they run away}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{The enemy attackers say to each other,}} “Seize the silver!

\par }{\QB Grab the gold!

\par }{\Q There is a huge amount of very valuable things in this city,

\par }{\QB more valuable things than anyone can count!”


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{Soon everything valuable in the city}} will be seized or ruined.

\par }{\QB People will be trembling, with the result that they will not be able to fight.

\par }{\QB Their faces will all become pale.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{After that happens, people will say,}}

\par }{\Q “What happened to [RHQ] that
{\ADD{great city of Nineveh}}?

\par }{\QB {\ADD{It was like}} [MET] a den
{\ADD{full}} of young lions,

\par }{\Q where the male and female lions lived and fed the young ones.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{The soldiers in Nineveh were like}} [MET] lions that killed or strangled
{\ADD{other animals}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and brought the meat}} to their dens.”


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}The Commander of the armies of angels says
{\ADD{to the people of Nineveh}},

\par }{\Q “I am opposed to you;

\par }{\QB I will cause your chariots to
{\ADD{be burned in fires and}} go up in smoke.

\par }{\Q Your young men will be killed with swords.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{Your soldiers}} will never again conquer
{\ADD{other nations}}

\par }{\QB and seize their valuable possessions.

\par }{\Q Your messengers will never again take messages
{\ADD{to other nations, demanding that their armies surrender to them}}.”




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Nineveh will be punished
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}Terrible things will happen to
{\ADD{Nineveh}},

\par }{\QB that city
{\ADD{that is full of people who}} murder [MTY] and lie.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{The city is}} full of things that were seized
{\ADD{from other countries by their soldiers}};

\par }{\QB {\ADD{their armies}} continually [LIT] have acted brutally towards people whom they conquered.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}But
{\ADD{now listen to the enemy soldiers coming to attack Nineveh}};

\par }{\Q {\ADD{listen to them}} cracking their whips,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{listen to the}} rattle of
{\ADD{their chariot}} wheels!

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Listen to}} their galloping horses

\par }{\QB and their chariots as they bounce along!


\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{Look at their}} flashing swords and glittering spears

\par }{\QB as the horsemen race forward!

\par }{\Q Many
{\ADD{people of Nineveh will be}} killed;

\par }{\Q {\ADD{there will be}} piles of corpses,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{with the result that}} people will stumble over them.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}All
{\ADD{that will happen}} because
{\ADD{Nineveh is like}} [MET] a beautiful prostitute

\par }{\QB {\ADD{who lures men to where they will be ruined}};

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Nineveh is a beautiful city}}

\par }{\QB which has attracted/enticed
{\ADD{people of}} other nations
{\ADD{to come there}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{The people of Nineveh}} taught those people
{\ADD{of other nations rituals of}} magic,

\par }{\QB and caused them to become their slaves.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{So}} the Commander of the armies of angels says to
{\ADD{the people of Nineveh}}:

\par }{\QB “I am your enemy,

\par }{\Q and I will
{\ADD{cause the people in other}} nations to see you
{\ADD{completely}} humiliated

\par }{\QB like [MET]
{\ADD{women who have committed adultery are humiliated by}} having their skirts lifted high,

\par }{\QB {\ADD{with the result that}} people can see their naked
{\ADD{bodies}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}I will cause rubbish/garbage to be thrown at you;

\par }{\QB I will show
{\ADD{others}} that I despise you very much,

\par }{\QB and I will cause you to be publicly ridiculed.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}All those who see you will turn their backs to you and say,

\par }{\Q ‘Nineveh is ruined,

\par }{\QB but absolutely no one [RHQ] will mourn for it.’

\par }{\QB No one will regret Nineveh being destroyed!”


\par }{\SH The people of Nineveh will not be able to defend themselves
\par }
{\Q \VS{8}Your city is certainly [RHQ] no safer than Thebes
{\ADD{city}} was.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{Thebes was an important city}} beside the Nile
{\ADD{River}};

\par }{\QB the river was
{\ADD{like}} [SIM] a wall that protected the city [DOU].


\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{The rulers of}} Ethiopia and Egypt helped Thebes;

\par }{\QB there was no limit to their power.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{The governments of the nearby countries of}} Put and Libya were also allies of Thebes.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}But Thebes was captured,

\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{its people were}} ◄exiled/forced to go to other countries►.

\par }{\Q Their babies were dashed to pieces in the streets
{\ADD{of the city}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Enemy soldiers}} ◄cast lots/threw small marked stones► to decide who would get each official in Thebes
{\ADD{to become his slave}}.

\par }{\QB All the leaders of Thebes were fastened/tied by chains.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}You
{\ADD{people of Nineveh}} will similarly become dazed and drunk,

\par }{\QB and you will search for places to hide

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to escape}} from your enemies.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{Your enemies will cause}} the walls around your city to fall down

\par }{\QB like [SIM] the first figs that fall from fig trees
{\ADD{each year}}.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Your city will be captured easily, like}} [MET]
{\ADD{figs that fall}} into the mouths [HYP] of those who shake the fig trees.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Look at your soldiers!

\par }{\QB They will be
{\ADD{as weak/helpless as}} [MET] women!

\par }{\Q The gates of your city will be opened wide

\par }{\QB {\ADD{to allow}} your enemies
{\ADD{to enter them}},

\par }{\QB {\ADD{and then}} the bars of those gates will be burned.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}Store up water
{\ADD{now to use when}} your enemies surround the city!

\par }{\QB Repair the forts!

\par }{\Q Dig up clay and trample it
{\ADD{to make it soft}},

\par }{\QB and put it into molds to make bricks
{\ADD{to repair the walls}}!


\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{Nevertheless, your enemies}} will burn your
{\ADD{city}};

\par }{\QB they will kill you with their swords;

\par }{\QB they will kill you like [SIM] locusts
{\ADD{destroy crops}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}In your
{\ADD{city}} there are now very many merchants;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it seems that}} there are more of them than there are stars.

\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{when your city is being destroyed, those merchants will take the valuable things and disappear}}

\par }{\QB {\ADD{like}} [SIM] locusts that strip the leaves from plants and
{\ADD{then}} fly away.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Your leaders are
{\ADD{also}} like a swarm of [SIM] locusts [DOU]

\par }{\QB that crowd together on the stone fences/walls on a cold day,

\par }{\Q and
{\ADD{then}} fly away when the sun comes up,

\par }{\QB and no one knows where they have gone.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}O King of Assyria, your officials will
{\ADD{all}} be dead [EUP];

\par }{\QB your important people will lie down and rest
{\ADD{forever}}.

\par }{\Q Your people will be scattered over the mountains,

\par }{\QB and there will no one to gather them
{\ADD{together}}.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}You
{\ADD{are like someone who}} has a wound that cannot be healed;

\par }{\QB {\ADD{it will be}} a wound that causes him to die.

\par }{\Q And all those who hear about what has happened to you will clap their hands
{\ADD{joyfully}}.

\par }{\QB {\ADD{They will say,}} “Everyone has [RHQ] suffered because he continually was
{\ADD{very}} cruel to us.”


\par }