\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Nahum}
{\MT Nahum

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}A
message
about
Nineveh,
a
vision
which
came
to
Nahum
from Elkosh.
\par }{\SH God’s
wrath
\par }{\Q \VS{2}The
{\ND{
Lord}} tolerates
no rivals.
\par }{\QB The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is vengeful
and
fierce
in
wrath.
\par }{\Q The
{\ND{
Lord}}
does
not
fail
to
punish
his
foes;
\par }{\QB the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is vengeful
against
his
enemies.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
slow
to
anger,
\par }{\QB great
in
power.
\par }{\Q The
guilty
will
not
escape
\par }{\QB his
punishment.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Storm
tempest
is
his
path
\par }{\QB and
cloud
is
the
dust
of
his
feet.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}He
rebukes
the
sea
and
dries
it
up
\par }{\QB and
makes
all
the
streams
run
dry.
\par }{\Q Bashan
and
Carmel
are
languishing
\par }{\QB and
the
bloom
of
Lebanon
is
withered.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}The
mountains
tremble
before
him
\par }{\QB and
the
hills
dissolve.
\par }{\Q The
earth heaves
before
him,
\par }{\QB the
world
and
all
who
live
in
it.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}Who
can
stand
before
his
wrath?
\par }{\QB Who
can
withstand
the
heat
of
his
anger?
\par }{\Q His
fierce
fury
pours
forth
like
fire,
\par }{\QB he
shatters
rocks.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
good
to
those
who
hope
in
him,
\par }{\QB a
place
of
refuge
in
the
day
of
trouble.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}With
rushing
flood
an
end
he
makes
\par }{\QB of
those
who
rise
against
him,
\par }{\Q he
drives
his
enemies
into
darkness.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Why
do
you
plot
against
the
{\ND{
Lord}}?
\par }{\QB He
will
end
you.
\par }{\QB He
only
takes
vengeance
once.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Thorns,
tangled
and
drenched,
\par }{\QB they
are
consumed
like
dry
stubble.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Nineveh!
From
you
has
arisen
\par }{\QB one
who
plots
evil
against
the
{\ND{
Lord}},
\par }{\QB a
counsellor
of
wickedness.
\par }{\SH Good
news
for
Judah
\par }{\PP \VS{12}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
says:
\par }{\Q ‘Though
they
are
many
and
strong,
\par }{\QB they
will
pass
away
and
be
gone.
\par }{\Q Though
I
have
afflicted
you,
\par }{\QB I
will
afflict
you
no
more,
\par }{\Q \VS{13}and
now
I
will
break
his
yoke
from
your
necks
\par }{\QB and snap
your
chains.’
\par }{\PP \VS{14}The
{\ND{
Lord}}
has
given
this
command
concerning
you,
Nineveh:
\par }{\Q ‘Your
name
will
no
longer
be
remembered.
\par }{\Q I
will
destroy
every
idol
and
image
\par }{\QB in
the
house
of
your
God.
\par }{\Q I
will
destroy
even
your
tomb,
\par }{\QB for
you
are
worthless.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Look!
On
the
mountains
a
messenger
\par }{\QB bringing
good
news,
\par }{\QB announcing
peace!
\par }{\Q ‘Celebrate
the
feasts,
Judah,
\par }{\QB fulfil
your
vows.
\par }{\Q Never
again
will
these
enemies
invade
your
land,
\par }{\QB they
are
destroyed!’

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Destruction of the city
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Nineveh!
The
destroyer
has
come
up
against
you;
\par }{\QB mount
guard
upon
the
rampart;
\par }{\QB watch
the
road; brace
yourselves;
\par }{\QB strengthen
your
might
to
the
utmost.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}For
the
{\ND{
Lord}}
is
restoring
the
majesty
of
Jacob
\par }{\QB and
of
Israel,
\par }{\Q though
the
devastators
have
plundered
them
\par }{\QB and
destroyed
their
vines.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}The
shields
of
his
warriors
are
dyed
red,
\par }{\QB his
soldiers
are
clothed
in
scarlet,
\par }{\Q his
chariots
gleam
like
fire
\par }{\QB on
the
day
he
prepares
for
battle
\par }{\QB spears
are
shaken.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}Chariots
rush
across
the
fields,
\par }{\QB storm
through
the
squares;
\par }{\Q they
flame
like
torches,
\par }{\QB they
dart
like lightening.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}A
leader rallies
his
nobles,
\par }{\QB they
hurl
themselves
forward.
\par }{\Q They
speed
on
toward
the
wall;
\par }{\QB the storming-shield
is
set
up.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}The water-gates
are
thrown
open,
\par }{\QB and
the
palace
dissolves
in
ruins.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}The
queen
is
stripped,
\par }{\QB she
is
carried
off.
\par }{\Q Her
maids
moan
like
doves,
\par }{\QB beating
upon
their
breasts.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Like
a
pool
of
water
is
Nineveh,
\par }{\QB her
waters
fast ebbing
away.
\par }{\Q ‘Stand
firm!
Stand
firm!’
someone
cries,
\par }{\QB but
no
one
turns
back.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}‘Loot
the
silver,
loot
the
gold,
\par }{\QB for
there
is
no
end
to
the
treasure,
\par }{\QB the
wealth
and
precious
things.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Nineveh
is
empty,
desolate,
devastated,
\par }{\QB with
faint
heart
and
knocking
knee.
\par }{\Q There
is
weakness
in
every
limb,
\par }{\QB and
faces
grow
pale.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Where
now
is
the
den
of
lions?
\par }{\QB Where
now
the
lair
of
their
young?
\par }{\Q Where
the
lion
used
to
withdraw,
\par }{\QB with
his
cubs,
with
none
to
disturb
them?
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}The
lion
tore
enough
for
his
cubs,
\par }{\QB and
strangled
prey
for
his
lionesses.
\par }{\Q He
filled
his
caves
with
the
kill,
\par }{\QB he
filled
his
lairs
with
fresh
meat.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}‘But
see,
I
am
against
you,’
\par }{\QB the
{\ND{
Lord}}
of
hosts
declares,
\par }{\Q ‘I
will
burn
your
chariots
in
smoke
and
fire.
\par }{\QB The
sword
will
devour
your
young
lions.
\par }{\Q You
will
never
again
prey
on
the
land.
\par }{\QB No
more
will
your
messengers
be
heard.’

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Ruin
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Woe
to
the
bloody
city!
\par }{\QB Full
of
lies
and
plunder,
\par }{\QB without
end
is
the
spoil.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Hear
the crack
of
the
whip,
\par }{\QB hear
the rattle
of
wheels.
\par }{\Q Galloping
horses,
\par }{\QB jolting
chariots.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Horsemen
charging,
\par }{\QB swords
flashing,
\par }{\QB spears
glittering,
\par }{\Q a
multitude
of
slain,
\par }{\QB a
heap
of
bodies,
\par }{\Q no
end
to
the
corpses
\par }{\QB over
which
people
stumble!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}‘Because
you
acted
like
a
whore,
\par }{\QB bewitching
the
nations,
\par }{\QB enticing
the
peoples,
\par }{\Q \VS{5}I
am
against
you, Nineveh’
\par }{\QB the
{\ND{
Lord}}
of
hosts
declares.
\par }{\Q ‘I
will
strip
your
clothes
\par }{\QB and
show
the
nations
your
nakedness,
\par }{\QB and
the
kingdoms
your
shame.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}‘I
will
fling
loathsome
filth
at
you,
\par }{\QB and
make
you
an
object
of
contempt,
\par }{\QB a
spectacle,
\par }{\Q \VS{7}so
that
everyone
who
sees
you
\par }{\QB will
flee
from
you
and
say:
\par }{\Q “Nineveh
is
laid
waste,
\par }{\QB who
will
mourn
for
her?”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}‘Are
you
any
better
than
Thebes,
\par }{\QB which
stood
on
the
banks
of
the
Nile,
\par }{\Q with
waters
around
as
a
rampart,
\par }{\QB whose
wall
was
the
sea
of
waters?
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Her
strength
was
Ethiopia
and
Egypt.
\par }{\QB The
Libyans
were
her
helpers,
\par }{\QB and
Put
with
its
countless
people.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Yet
she
was
exiled
\par }{\QB and
made
captive.
\par }{\Q On
all
corners
of
the
streets
\par }{\QB her
infants
were
dashed
to
pieces.
\par }{\Q Lots
were
cast
for
her
nobles,
\par }{\QB all
her
great
ones
were
bound
in
chains.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}‘You
too,
Nineveh,
will
be
drunk
with
fear;
\par }{\QB you
too
will
seek
a
place
of
escape
from
the
foe.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}All
your
fortresses
are
fig
trees
with
the
first
ripe
figs;
\par }{\QB if
shaken,
they
fall
into
the
mouth
of
the
eater!
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Your
troops
are
weak
as
women
before
your
foes;
\par }{\QB the
gates
of
your
land
are
wide
open;
\par }{\QB your
defenses
burned
down.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}‘Draw
water
for
the
siege,
\par }{\QB strengthen
your
forts.
\par }{\Q Go
to
the
clay
pits
and
tread
the
clay;
\par }{\QB take
up
the
brick moulds.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}There
the
fire
will
consume
you,
\par }{\QB the
sword
will
cut
you
down.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q Multiply
like
the
locust
\par }{\QB or
a
swarm
of
grasshoppers.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Increase
the
numbers
of
your
merchants
\par }{\QB until
they
are
more
than
the
stars
of
heaven,
\par }{\Q \VS{17}until
your
watchmen
are
locusts,
\par }{\QB and
your
scribes
like
grasshoppers,
\par }{\QB which
swarm
in
the
hedges
on
a
cold
day;
\par }{\Q but
when
the
sun
rises
\par }{\QB they
fly
away,
\par }{\QB no
one
knows
where.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}‘King
of
Assyria:
\par }{\QB your
princes
slumber,
\par }{\QB your
nobles
sleep!
\par }{\Q Your
people
are
scattered
on
the
mountains
\par }{\QB with
no
one
to
gather
them!
\par }{\Q \VS{19}There
is
no
healing
for
your
hurt,
\par }{\QB your
wound
is
incurable.
\par }{\Q All
who
hear
of
your
fate
clap
their
hands
in
joy,
\par }{\QB for
who
has
escaped
your limitless
cruelty?’
\par }