Superscription

• the scroll of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

Half-Acrostic: Yahweh Takes Vengeance against His Enemies

• 2 Yahweh is avenging and[fn]
• Yahweh takes vengeance against his enemies;
  • he rages against his adversaries.
  • 3 in power; he will certainly not allow the guilty to go unpunished.
• [fn] in storm wind and in gale;
  • storm clouds are the dust of his feet.
  • 4  he makes all the rivers run dry.  
• Bashan and Carmel wither;[fn]
  • the blossom of Lebanon languishes.
  • 5  the hills shake apart.[fn]
• The earth heaves before him—
  • the world and all her inhabitants.
  • 6  Who can endure[fn]
• His wrath is poured out like fire;
  • rocks are shattered before[fn] him.
  • 7 the day of distress; he knows those who take refuge in him.
  • 8 Nineveh to an end; he will chase his enemies into darkness.

Yahweh Will Destroy Nineveh

• 9 [fn] do you plot against Yahweh?[fn]
  • trouble will not rise up a second time!
• 10  and like their drink which is drunk,
  • they will be consumed like fully dry chaff.
• 11  one who plans wickedness.

Yahweh Will Deliver Judah and Destroy Nineveh

• 12 Yahweh says this:“Even though they are powerful and likewise many,
  • even so they will be cut off and pass away.
• Though I have afflicted you,[fn]
  • I will afflict you[fn] no longer.
  • 13  I will snap your bonds.”
• 14 Yahweh has commanded concerning you:“Your name will no longer be sown.
  • I will cut off[fn] from the[fn] of your gods;
    • [fn] because you are worthless.”
• [fn] Look! On the mountains!
  • The feet of the one who brings good tidings,
    • the one who proclaims peace!
• “Celebrate a festival, O Judah,
  • Fulfill your vows!
• For he will not invade you again;
  • the wicked one is cut off completely!”

The Divine Warrior Will Attack Nineveh

• Guard the fortification!
  • Watch the road![fn]
• Gird your loins!
  • [fn] all your strength!
• 2  like the majesty of Israel;
• for ravagers have ravaged them
  • and ruined their branches.

The Enemy Army Conquers the City of Nineveh

• 3 are dyed red; The powerful men are dressed in scarlet.
• The metal of the chariots[fn] shines like fire[fn]
  • and their spears quiver.
  • 4 [fn] race madly through the streets; they rush back and forth in the public squares.
• Their appearance like lightning bolts,
  • they dart about like flashes of lightning.
  • 5  they stumble as they march;
• they rush to her wall;
  • they set the covering[fn] in place.
  • 6  the palace trembles.
  • 7 [fn] her maidservants moan like doves;
    • they beat on their breasts.
  • 8 is like a pool of water without its water.[fn][fn] she cries, “Stop! Stop!”
    • But there is no one who turns back.
  • 9  There is no end to the spoils,[fn]
    • an abundance of[fn]
  • 10  Their hearts faint and their knees tremble,[fn]
    • [fn] and all their faces[fn] pale.

The Divine Warrior Will Hunt down the Mighty Lions

• 11 now is the den of the lions and the cave of the fierce lions?
• There the lioness, the cub, and the lion once[fn]
  • [fn]
  • 12 prey for his cubs, he strangled prey for his lioness;
• he filled[fn] with prey
  • and his den with mangled carcass.
  • 13 [fn] Yahweh of hosts. “I will burn her chariots[fn]
    • the sword will devour fierce lions.
  • I will cut off your prey from the earth;
    • the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

The Doom of the Wicked City is Certain

• [fn]
• She is filled with plunder,
  • [fn]
  • 2  The rumbling of the chariot wheel!
• The galloping of the horse!
  • The racing of the chariot!
  • 3  Swords flash!
    • Spears glitter!
• [fn]
  • There is no end to the slain!
    • They stumble over their dead!

Harlot Nineveh Will Get What She Deserves

• 4 the prostitute, the beautiful charm of a mistress of witchcraft,
• she who enslaves nations by her harlotries,
  • and peoples by her sorceries,
  • 5 [fn]Yahweh. “I will strip up your skirts over your face;
    • I will let nations look at your nakedness and your shame.
  • 6  I will treat you with contempt,
    • I will make you a spectacle.
  • 7  And[fn] will say, ‘Nineveh is destroyed!’
• Who will mourn for her?
  • From whence shall I seek comforters for you?”

Nineveh Will Suffer the Same Fate She Inflicted on Thebes

• 8 [fn]She who sits at the Nile, surrounded by her waters,
• her rampart was the sea and water was her wall.
  • 9 was her strength, Egypt without end; Put and Libya were among[fn]
  • 10  her children were dashed to pieces at the head of the streets;
• they cast lots for all of her nobles;
  • all of her dignitaries were bound with chains.
  • 11  You also will hide yourself;
    • You also will seek refuge from the enemy.

Nineveh’s Defenses Will Fail

• 12 are like fig trees with ripe firstfruits— if they are shaken, they will fall into the mouth of the eater.
• 13 are like women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies;
  • fire will consume the bars of your gates.
• 14  Strengthen your fortifications!
• Go to the mud pit!
  • Trample the clay!
    • Grasp the brick mold!
  • 15  the sword will cut you off.
    • It will consume you like the locust.

Nineveh’s Defenders Will Flee

• Multiply yourself like the locust!
  • Multiply yourself like the grasshopper!
  • 16  like the locust they will shed their skin and fly away.
  • 17 are like locusts; your commanders are like a swarm of locusts.
• They encamp on the walls on a cold day;
  • when the sun rises, they fly away—
    • no one knows where they have gone.

Nineveh Will Come to an End

• 18 O king of Assyria! Your nobles slumber.
• Your people are scattered on the mountains;
  • no one can gather them.
  • 19  your injury is fatal.
• All who hear the report of you will clap their hands for joy concerning you,
  • [fn]