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Nahum 1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 1

1 Oracle[a] concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God’s Terrifying Appearance

2 [b]A jealous and avenging God[c] is the Lord,
    an avenger is the Lord, full of wrath;
The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries,
    and rages against his enemies;
3 The Lord is slow to anger, yet great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.(A)
In stormwind[d] and tempest he comes,
    and clouds are the dust at his feet;
4 He roars at the sea and leaves it dry,
    and all the rivers he dries up.
Laid low are Bashan and Carmel,
    and the bloom of Lebanon withers;[e]
5 The mountains quake before him,
    and the hills dissolve;
The earth is laid waste before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.
6 [f]Before his wrath, who can stand firm,
    and who can face his blazing anger?(B)
His fury is poured out like fire,
    and boulders break apart before him.
7 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    a refuge on the day of distress,
Taking care of those who look to him for protection,
8     when the flood rages;
He makes an end of his opponents,
    and pursues his enemies into darkness.

Nineveh’s Judgment and Judah’s Restoration

9 What do you plot against the Lord,
    the one about to bring total destruction?
    No opponent rises a second time!
10 [g]Like a thorny thicket, they are tangled,
    and like drunkards, they are drunk;
    like dry stubble, they are utterly consumed.
11 From you has come
    one plotting evil against the Lord,
    one giving sinister counsel.[h]
12 Thus says the Lord:
    though fully intact and so numerous,
    they[i] shall be mown down and disappear.
Though I have humbled you,
    I will humble you no more.
13 Now I will break his yoke off of you,
    and tear off your bonds.(C)

14 The Lord has commanded regarding you:[j]
    no descendant will again bear your name;
From the house of your gods I will abolish
    the carved and the molten image;
    I will make your grave a dung heap.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Oracle: (Heb. Massa’) a word used frequently to describe a prophetic statement against a foreign nation or occasionally Israel; it is used favorably for Israel in Zec 12:1 and Mal 1:1. Nahum of Elkosh: Nahum means “comfort.” Elkosh is a clan or village of unknown location, perhaps in southern Judah.
  2. 1:2–8 A poem written in the style of the alphabetic psalms (cf. Ps 9; 25; 111; 119) in which each verse unit begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second half of the alphabet is not represented here.
  3. 1:2 A jealous…God: see note on Ex 20:5.
  4. 1:3–6 In stormwind: the power of God is often pictured by natural forces and cosmic disruption (Ex 19:9–25; Ps 18:8–16; 104:1–9).
  5. 1:4 Bashan, Carmel, and Lebanon were famous for their mountainous terrain and lush forests.
  6. 1:6–7 When God comes in judgment those who oppose God will be destroyed, and those who trust in God will be saved.
  7. 1:10 Thorns (Is 34:13), drunkenness (Lam 4:21; Na 3:11), and burning stubble (Ob 18) are all images of the judgment of God’s enemies.
  8. 1:11 From you…giving sinister counsel: addressed to Nineveh, the capital city of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, who besieged Jerusalem ca. 700 B.C.
  9. 1:12–13 They: the enemies of Judah. You: Judah. His yoke: the dominion of the Assyrian king over Judah.
  10. 1:14 You: the king of Assyria.
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Nahum 1
New International Version

1 A prophecy(A) concerning Nineveh.(B) The book of the vision(C) of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh

2 The Lord is a jealous(D) and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance(E) and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.(F)
3 The Lord is slow to anger(G) but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.(H)
His way is in the whirlwind(I) and the storm,(J)
    and clouds(K) are the dust of his feet.
4 He rebukes(L) the sea and dries it up;(M)
    he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel(N) wither
    and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
5 The mountains quake(O) before him
    and the hills melt away.(P)
The earth trembles(Q) at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.(R)
6 Who can withstand(S) his indignation?
    Who can endure(T) his fierce anger?(U)
His wrath is poured out like fire;(V)
    the rocks are shattered(W) before him.

7 The Lord is good,(X)
    a refuge in times of trouble.(Y)
He cares for(Z) those who trust in him,(AA)
8     but with an overwhelming flood(AB)
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

9 Whatever they plot(AC) against the Lord
    he will bring[a] to an end;
    trouble will not come a second time.
10 They will be entangled among thorns(AD)
    and drunk(AE) from their wine;
    they will be consumed like dry stubble.[b](AF)
11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
    who plots evil against the Lord
    and devises wicked plans.

12 This is what the Lord says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed(AG) and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.(AH)
13 Now I will break their yoke(AI) from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”(AJ)

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
    “You will have no descendants to bear your name.(AK)
I will destroy the images(AL) and idols
    that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,(AM)
    for you are vile.”

15 Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,(AN)
    who proclaims peace!(AO)
Celebrate your festivals,(AP) Judah,
    and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;(AQ)
    they will be completely destroyed.[c]

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 1:9 Or What do you foes plot against the Lord? / He will bring it
  2. Nahum 1:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  3. Nahum 1:15 In Hebrew texts this verse (1:15) is numbered 2:1.
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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