LEB NAH Chapter 1

Superscription

• the scroll of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

Half-Acrostic: Yahweh Takes Vengeance against His Enemies

• 2 Yahweh is a jealous God and avenging; Yahweh is avenging and full of wrath .[fn]
• Yahweh takes vengeance against his enemies;
  • he rages against his adversaries.
  • 3 Yahweh is slow to anger but great in power; he will certainly not allow the guilty to go unpunished.
• He marches[fn] in storm wind and in gale;
  • storm clouds are the dust of his feet.
  • 4 He rebukes the sea and he dries up the rivers; he makes all the rivers run dry.  
• Bashan and Carmel wither;[fn]
  • the blossom of Lebanon languishes.
  • 5 Mountains quake before him; the hills shake apart.[fn]
• The earth heaves before him—
  • the world and all her inhabitants.
  • 6 His indignation—who can stand before it? Who can endure his fierce anger ?[fn]
• His wrath is poured out like fire;
  • rocks are shattered before[fn] him.
  • 7 Yahweh is good—a refuge in the day of distress; he knows those who take refuge in him.
  • 8 But with a rushing torrent he will bring Nineveh to an end; he will chase his enemies into darkness.

Yahweh Will Destroy Nineveh

• 9 What[fn] do you plot against Yahweh? He will completely destroy it;[fn]
  • trouble will not rise up a second time!
• 10 For like entangled thorns, and like their drink which is drunk,
  • they will be consumed like fully dry chaff.
• 11 From you goes out one who plots evil against Yahweh, 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 And now, I will break his yoke from upon you; I will snap your bonds.”
• 14 Yahweh has commanded concerning you:“Your name will no longer be sown.
  • I will cut off the idols and images[fn] from the temple[fn] of your gods;
    • I will send you to the grave[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!”