\NormalFont\ShortTitle{NAHUM}

{\MT Nahum



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Nahum’s Vision
\par }
{\MM \VerseOne{1}This is a revelation from the
{\ND{Lord}} about Nineveh. This book contains the vision of Nahum from Elkosh.


\par }{\SH Who Can Withstand the
{\ND{LORD}}’s Anger?
\par }
{\Q \VS{2}God does not tolerate rivals. The
{\ND{Lord}} takes revenge.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} takes revenge and is full of anger.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} takes revenge against his enemies

\par }{\Q and holds a grudge against his foes.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}The
{\ND{Lord}} is patient and has great strength.

\par }{\Q The
{\ND{Lord}} will never let the guilty go unpunished.

\par }{\Q Raging winds and storms mark his path,

\par }{\Q and clouds are the dust from his feet.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}He yells at the sea and makes it dry.

\par }{\Q He dries up all the rivers.

\par }{\Q Bashan and Carmel wither.

\par }{\Q The flowers of Lebanon wither.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}The mountains quake because of him.

\par }{\Q The hills melt.

\par }{\Q The earth draws back in his presence.

\par }{\Q The world and all who live in it draw back as well.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Who can stand in the presence of his rage?

\par }{\Q Who can oppose his burning anger?

\par }{\Q He pours out his rage like fire

\par }{\Q and smashes the rocky cliffs.


\par }{\SH Why Does Nineveh Oppose the
{\ND{LORD}}?
\par }
{\Q \VS{7}The
{\ND{Lord}} is good.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{⌞He is⌟}} a fortress in the day of trouble.

\par }{\Q He knows those who seek shelter in him.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}He will put an end to Nineveh

\par }{\Q with a devastating flood.

\par }{\Q He will pursue his enemies with darkness.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}What do you think about the
{\ND{Lord}}?

\par }{\Q He is the one who will bring Nineveh to an end.

\par }{\Q This trouble will never happen again.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{⌞The people of Nineveh will be⌟}} like tangled thorns

\par }{\Q and like people drunk on their own drink.

\par }{\Q They will be completely burned up like very dry straw.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}From you, Nineveh, a person who plans evil against the
{\ND{Lord}} sets out.

\par }{\Q His advice is wicked.


\par }{\SH Nineveh Will Fall
\par }
{\Q \VS{12}This is what the
{\ND{Lord}} says:

\par }{\Q Though the people of Nineveh are physically fit and many in number,

\par }{\Q they will be cut down and die.

\par }{\Q Though I have humbled you, Judah,

\par }{\Q I will not humble you again.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}But now I will break Nineveh’s yoke \FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:13 }{\FT{A
}}{\FK{yoke
}}{\FT{is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.}}} off of you

\par }{\Q and tear its chains from you.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}The
{\ND{Lord}} has given this command about you, Nineveh:

\par }{\Q You will no longer have descendants to carry on your name.

\par }{\Q I will remove the wooden and metal idols from the temple of your gods.

\par }{\Q I will prepare your grave because you are worthless.\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:14 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Nahum 1:15}}{\FT{ in English Bibles is Nahum 2:1 in the Hebrew Bible.}}}


\par }{\SH An Army Will Conquer Nineveh
\par }
{\Q \VS{15}There on the mountains are the feet of a messenger

\par }{\Q who announces the good news: “All is well!”

\par }{\Q Celebrate your festivals, Judah! Keep your vows!

\par }{\Q This wickedness will never pass your way again.

\par }{\Q It will be completely removed.




\par }\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:1 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Nahum 2:1–13}}{\FT{ in English Bibles is Nahum 2:2–14 in the Hebrew Bible.}}}The one who will scatter you is coming to attack you.

\par }{\Q Guard your fortress!

\par }{\Q Keep a lookout on the road!

\par }{\Q Prepare for battle!

\par }{\Q Be very courageous!


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}The
{\ND{Lord}} will restore Jacob’s glory like Israel’s glory,

\par }{\Q although enemies have looted it

\par }{\Q and have destroyed its vines.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}The shields of his warriors are painted red.

\par }{\Q His soldiers have red uniforms.

\par }{\Q The metal on his chariots flashes fiery red,

\par }{\Q so do the spears when they are waved

\par }{\Q on the day he prepares for battle.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Chariots are racing madly through the streets,

\par }{\Q rushing this way and that in the city squares.

\par }{\Q They look like torches, like lightning, as they dart about.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}He remembers his best fighting men.

\par }{\Q They stumble over themselves as they march.

\par }{\Q They hurry to Nineveh’s wall.

\par }{\Q The shield has been set up for the battering ram.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melts away.


\par }{\SH Nineveh’s Treasures Will Be Taken
\par }
{\Q \VS{7}The
{\ND{Lord}} has determined:

\par }{\Q “It will be stripped.

\par }{\Q It will be carried away.

\par }{\Q Its young women will be mourning like doves

\par }{\Q as they beat their breasts.”


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Nineveh was like a pool of water from its first day on.

\par }{\Q But now its people are fleeing.

\par }{\Q “Stop! Stop!”

\par }{\Q But no one turns around.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Steal the silver! Steal the gold!

\par }{\Q There is no end to what is stored here—

\par }{\Q everything a person could ever want.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Nineveh is destroyed, deserted, demolished.

\par }{\Q Hearts are melting.

\par }{\Q Knees are knocking.

\par }{\Q Every stomach becomes upset.

\par }{\Q Every face turns pale.


\par }{\SH Nineveh Will Be Destroyed
\par }
{\Q \VS{11}Where is the lions’ den,

\par }{\Q that feeding place for young lions?

\par }{\Q Where are the lion, the lioness, and the lion cub who moved about

\par }{\Q with no one to terrify them?


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The lion tore its prey to pieces to feed its cubs.

\par }{\Q It strangled
{\ADD{⌞the prey⌟}} for its mates.

\par }{\Q It used to fill its caves with torn carcasses

\par }{\Q and its dens with torn flesh.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}“I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the
{\ND{Lord}} of Armies.

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

\par }{\Q and a sword will kill your young lions.

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

\par }{\Q and no one will ever hear the voice of your messengers again.”




\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Nineveh’s Punishment for Sin
\par }
{\Q \VerseOne{1}How horrible it will be for that city of bloody violence!

\par }{\Q It is completely full of lies and stolen goods—never without victims.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}The sound of the whip!

\par }{\Q The sound of rattling wheels!

\par }{\Q Horses gallop!

\par }{\Q Chariots bounce along!


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Horses charge!

\par }{\Q Swords flash!

\par }{\Q Spears glitter!

\par }{\Q Many are killed!

\par }{\Q Dead bodies pile up!

\par }{\Q There is no end to the corpses!

\par }{\Q People trip over corpses


\par }{\Q \VS{4}because of Nineveh’s constant prostitution,

\par }{\Q this very charming mistress of evil magic.

\par }{\Q She used to sell

\par }{\Q nations her prostitution

\par }{\Q and people her evil magic.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}“I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the
{\ND{Lord}} of Armies.

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

\par }{\Q I will show nations your naked body and kingdoms your disgrace.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}I will throw filth on you.

\par }{\Q I will make you look like a fool.

\par }{\Q I will make you a sight to be seen.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}Everyone who sees you will run from you, saying,

\par }{\Q ‘Nineveh has been violently destroyed!

\par }{\Q Who will feel sorry for her?’

\par }{\Q Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”


\par }{\SH Nineveh Will Not Escape Punishment
\par }
{\Q \VS{8}Are you better than No-amon,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:8 }{\FT{The city
}}{\FK{No-amon}}{\FT{, also called Thebes, was the capital of southern Egypt.}}} which sits by the streams of the Nile

\par }{\Q with water surrounding her?

\par }{\Q The sea was
{\ADD{⌞her⌟}} defense.

\par }{\Q The water was her wall.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Sudan and Egypt were her endless strength.

\par }{\Q Put and the Lybians were her help.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Even she went into captivity and was exiled.

\par }{\Q Even her little children were smashed to death at every street corner.

\par }{\Q Soldiers tossed dice for her important men,

\par }{\Q and all her best men were bound in chains.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Even you, Nineveh, will stagger like a drunk.

\par }{\Q You will disappear.

\par }{\Q Even you will look for a fortress
{\ADD{⌞to escape⌟}} from the enemy.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}All your defenses will be like fig trees with the earliest figs.

\par }{\Q When shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}Look at your soldiers; they’re women!

\par }{\Q The gates of your country are wide open to your enemies.

\par }{\Q Fire has destroyed the bars of your gates.


\par }{\SH Nineveh’s Strength Will Not Save Her
\par }
{\Q \VS{14}Store water for the siege!

\par }{\Q Strengthen your defenses!

\par }{\Q Step into the claypits and trample the clay!

\par }{\Q Grab the brick mold!


\par }{\Q \VS{15}Fire will consume you there.

\par }{\Q A sword will cut you down.

\par }{\Q It will consume you like locusts.

\par }{\Q Multiply like locusts!

\par }{\Q Multiply like hungry locusts!


\par }{\Q \VS{16}You have produced more businessmen than there are stars in the sky.

\par }{\Q {\ADD{⌞They are⌟}} like locusts that attack and then fly away.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Your officers are like locusts,

\par }{\Q and your scribes are like swarms of locusts

\par }{\Q that settle on the fences when it is cold.

\par }{\Q The sun rises, and they scatter in every direction.

\par }{\Q No one knows where they’ve gone.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}Your shepherds, king of Assyria, have fallen into a deep sleep.

\par }{\Q Your best fighting men are at rest.

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

\par }{\Q and there is no one to gather them.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}There is no relief for your collapse.

\par }{\Q Your wound is fatal.

\par }{\Q All who hear the news about you will clap their hands.

\par }{\Q Who hasn’t suffered from your endless evil?

\par }