A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Nahum 1
Nahum 1 is the opening chapter of the thirty-fourth book of the Bible. The 15-verse chapter opens the prophet's sustained oracle of judgment against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire.
The chapter opens by identifying the prophecy as an oracle concerning Nineveh, in the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. Almost nothing else is known about Nahum personally.
The chapter is structured as a poetic hymn about God's character before turning to its specific target. God is described as jealous and avenging, slow to anger but great in power, never leaving the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm; clouds are the dust of his feet. The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves at his presence. He knows those who take refuge in him.
The hymn then turns to Nineveh specifically. The city's pride and cruelty have come up before God, and judgment is coming. The chapter describes the destruction in vivid terms: a fire that consumes everything, an overwhelming flood, dry stubble that burns completely. Whatever Nineveh plots against the Lord will be wiped out. The Assyrian threat will be broken.
The chapter closes with a turn to good news for Judah, which has suffered under Assyrian aggression. The messenger of peace will come over the mountains. Judah is told to celebrate her festivals again, because the wicked will no longer pass through her; they have been entirely cut off.
Verse 1. This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
Verse 2. The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
Verse 3. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
Verse 4. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.
Verse 5. The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
Verse 6. Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
Verse 7. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
Verse 8. But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
Verse 9. Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.
Verse 10. For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.
Verse 11. From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.
Verse 12. This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer.
Verse 13. For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”
Verse 14. The LORD has issued a command concerning you, O Nineveh: “There will be no descendants to carry on your name. I will cut off the carved image and cast idol from the house of your gods; I will prepare your grave, for you are contemptible.”
Verse 15. Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
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