\NormalFont\ShortTitle{NAHUM}
{\MTB This book contains the account of Nahum foretelling about Nineveh and the Assyrian people being destroyed. We call this book
\par }{\MT Nahum

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am}}
Nahum,
from Elkosh
{\ADD{
village}}.
{\ADD{
This
is}}
a
message
about
Nineveh
{\ADD{
city,
the
capital
of
Assyria
that
was
given}}
to
me
in
a
vision
{\ADD{
by
Yahweh}}.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
is
angry
with
the
people
of
Nineveh
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Yahweh
our
God ◄is
jealous/does
not
want
people
to
worship
any
other
god►.
\par }{\QB He
is
very
angry
{\ADD{
with
those
who
worship
other
gods}},
\par }{\Q and
he
gets
revenge [DOU]
{\ADD{
on
all}}
those
who
oppose
him [DOU].
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Yahweh
does
not
quickly
become
angry;
\par }{\QB but
he
is
very
powerful,
\par }{\Q and
he
will
certainly
punish [LIT]
those
who
have
done
evil
things [MTY].
\par }{\Q He
shows
his
power
by
sending
whirlwinds
and storms,
\par }{\QB and
clouds
are
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
the
dust
{\ADD{
stirred
up
by}}
his
feet.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}When
he
commands
oceans
and
rivers
to
become
dry,
\par }{\QB they
dry
up.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
He
causes
the
grass
in
the
fields
in}}
the
Bashan
{\ADD{
region}}
and
{\ADD{
on
the
slopes
of}}
Carmel
{\ADD{
Mountain}}
to
wither,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
causes}}
the
flowers
in
Lebanon
to
fade.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}When
he
appears,
{\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
the
mountains
shake
and
the
hills
melt;
\par }{\QB the
earth
quakes
and
{\ADD{
the
people
on}}
the
earth
tremble.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}There
is
no
one [RHQ]
who
can
resist
him
when
he
becomes
extremely
angry;
\par }{\QB there
is
no
one [RHQ]
who
can
survive
when
his
anger
is
very
hot.
\par }{\Q When
he
is
very
angry,
{\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
his
anger
is
like [SIM]
a
blazing
fire,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
mountains
are
shattered
into
pieces.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}But
he
is
good;
\par }{\QB he
protects
{\ADD{
us
his
people}}
when
we
experience
troubles.
\par }{\Q He
takes
care
of
those
who
trust
in
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}But
he
will
get
rid
of
his
enemies;
\par }{\QB he
will
be
to
them
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
a
flood
that
destroys
everything.
\par }{\Q He
will
chase
his
enemies
\par }{\QB into
the
darkness
{\ADD{
of
the
place
where
the
dead
are}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
So}},
it
is
useless [RHQ]
for
you
{\ADD{
people
of
Nineveh}}
to
plot
against
Yahweh.
\par }{\QB He
will
not
{\ADD{
need
to}}
strike
you
two
times
to
destroy
you;
\par }{\QB he
will
destroy
you
{\ADD{
by
striking
you
only
once}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
It
will
be
as
though
his
enemies}}
are
tangled
in
thorns,
\par }{\QB and
they
will
stagger
like
people
who
have
drunk
a
lot
of
wine.
\par }{\QB They
will
be
burned
up
like [SIM]
a
fire
completely
burns
up
stubble/straw.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}In
Nineveh
{\ADD{
city}}
there
was
a
man
who
advised
people
to
do
very
wicked
things
to
Yahweh.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}But
this
is
what
Yahweh
says
{\ADD{
about
you Israeli
people}}:
\par }{\Q “Although
the
people
of
Assyria
have
very
many
people
and
their
army
is
very
powerful,
\par }{\QB they
will
be
destroyed
and
will
disappear.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
I
say
to
my
people
in
Judah,}}
\par }{\QB ‘
have
{\ADD{
already}}
punished
you,
\par }{\QB but
I
will
not
punish
you
again.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Now
I
will
cause
the
{\ADD{
people
of
Assyria}}
to
no
longer
control/oppress
you [MET];
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
will
be
as
though}}
I
will
tear
off
the
shackles/chains
on
your
{\ADD{
hands
and
feet}}.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
And
this
is
what}}
Yahweh
also
declares
about
you
people
of
Nineveh:
\par }{\QB “You
will
not
have
any
descendants
who
will
continue
to
have
your
family
names.
\par }{\Q And
I
will
destroy
all
the
statues
of
your
gods
\par }{\QB that
were
carved
or
formed
in molds.
\par }{\Q I
will
cause
you
{\ADD{
to
be
killed
and}}
sent
to
your
graves,
\par }{\QB because
you
are
vile/despicable!”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
You
people
of
Judah,}}
look!
A
messenger
will
be
coming
across
the
mountains,
\par }{\QB and
he [SYN]
will
be
bringing
good
news
{\ADD{
to
you}}.
\par }{\QB He
will
be
declaring
{\ADD{
that
you
will
now
have}}
peace
{\ADD{
because
Assyria
will
have
been
conquered}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
So,}}
celebrate
your
festivals,
\par }{\QB and
do
what
you
solemnly
promised
to
do
{\ADD{
when
your
enemies
were threatening
to
attack
you}},
\par }{\Q because
your
wicked
{\ADD{
enemies}}
will
not
invade
your
country
again,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because}}
they
will
be
completely
destroyed.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Nineveh will be destroyed
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
You
people
of}} [APO]
Nineveh,
\par }{\QB your
enemies
are
coming
to
attack
you.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
So}}
place
guards
on
the
tops
of
the
walls
around
the
city!
\par }{\QB Guard
the
roads
{\ADD{
into
the
city}}!
\par }{\QB Get
ready
to
fight!
\par }{\QB Gather
your
troops/soldiers [MTY]
together!
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}Even
though
enemy
soldiers
have
destroyed
the
descendants
of [MTY]
Jacob,
\par }{\QB Yahweh
will
cause
them
to
be
honored
again.
\par }{\Q Israel
is
like
a grapevine
that
has
been
ruined,
\par }{\QB but
Israel
will
prosper
again.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}The
shields
of
the
enemy
soldiers
{\ADD{
who
are
coming
to
attack
you}}
will
shine
red
{\ADD{
as
the
sun
shines
on
them}},
\par }{\QB and
they
will
wear
bright
red uniforms.
\par }{\Q The
metal
of
their
chariot
{\ADD{
wheels}}
will
flash
when
they
line
up
{\ADD{
before
the
battle}},
\par }{\QB and
their
soldiers
will
lift
up
their
cypress/pine
spears
and
wave
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Their
chariots
will
dash
through
the
streets
{\ADD{
of
Nineveh}}
\par }{\QB and
rush
furiously
through
the
plazas.
\par }{\Q Going
as
quick
as
lightning,
\par }{\QB they
will
resemble
flaming
torches.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
Meanwhile}},
your
king
will
summon
his
officers
\par }{\QB who
will
stumble
as
they
{\ADD{
try
to}}
come
{\ADD{
quickly}}.
\par }{\Q They
will
dash
to
the
{\ADD{
city}}
wall,
\par }{\QB holding
their
shields
to
protect
themselves.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But,
the
gates
{\ADD{
of
the
dams}}
on
the
rivers
will
be
thrown
open
{\ADD{
by
enemy
soldiers}},
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
the
flood
will
cause}}
the
palace
to
collapse.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}The
queen
will
have
her
clothes
stripped
off
her
{\ADD{
by
enemy
soldiers}},
\par }{\QB and
her
slave
girls
will
moan
like
doves
\par }{\QB and
beat
their
breasts
{\ADD{
to
show
that
they
are
very
sad}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
The
people
will
rush
from}}
Nineveh
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
water
rushes
from
a
broken
dam.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
officials}}
will
shout, “Stop!
Stop!”
\par }{\QB but
the
people
will
not
even
look
back
{\ADD{
as
they
run
away}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
The
enemy attackers
say
to
each
other,}} “Seize
the
silver!
\par }{\QB Grab
the
gold!
\par }{\Q There
is
a
huge
amount
of
very
valuable
things
in
this
city,
\par }{\QB more
valuable
things
than
anyone
can
count!”
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
Soon
everything
valuable
in
the
city}}
will
be
seized
or
ruined.
\par }{\QB People
will
be
trembling,
with
the
result
that
they
will
not
be
able
to
fight.
\par }{\QB Their
faces
will
all
become
pale.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
After
that
happens,
people
will
say,}}
\par }{\Q “What
happened
to [RHQ]
that
{\ADD{
great
city
of
Nineveh}}?
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
It
was
like}} [MET]
a
den
{\ADD{
full}}
of
young
lions,
\par }{\Q where
the
male
and
female
lions
lived
and
fed
the
young
ones.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
The
soldiers
in
Nineveh
were
like}} [MET]
lions
that
killed
or
strangled
{\ADD{
other
animals}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
brought
the
meat}}
to
their
dens.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}The
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
{\ADD{
to
the
people
of
Nineveh}},
\par }{\Q “I
am
opposed
to
you;
\par }{\QB I
will
cause
your
chariots
to
{\ADD{
be
burned
in
fires
and}}
go
up
in
smoke.
\par }{\Q Your
young
men
will
be
killed
with
swords.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Your
soldiers}}
will
never
again
conquer
{\ADD{
other
nations}}
\par }{\QB and
seize
their
valuable
possessions.
\par }{\Q Your
messengers
will
never
again
take
messages
{\ADD{
to
other
nations, demanding
that
their
armies
surrender
to
them}}.”

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Nineveh will be punished
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
{\ADD{
Nineveh}},
\par }{\QB that
city
{\ADD{
that
is
full
of
people
who}}
murder [MTY]
and
lie.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
city
is}}
full
of
things
that
were
seized
{\ADD{
from
other
countries
by
their
soldiers}};
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
their
armies}}
continually [LIT]
have
acted brutally towards
people
whom
they
conquered.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}But
{\ADD{
now
listen
to
the
enemy
soldiers
coming
to
attack
Nineveh}};
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
listen
to
them}} cracking
their
whips,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
listen
to
the}} rattle
of
{\ADD{
their
chariot}}
wheels!
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Listen
to}}
their
galloping
horses
\par }{\QB and
their
chariots
as
they bounce
along!
\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
Look
at
their}}
flashing
swords
and
glittering
spears
\par }{\QB as
the
horsemen
race
forward!
\par }{\Q Many
{\ADD{
people
of
Nineveh
will
be}}
killed;
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
there
will
be}}
piles
of
corpses,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
with
the
result
that}}
people
will
stumble
over
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}All
{\ADD{
that
will
happen}}
because
{\ADD{
Nineveh
is
like}} [MET]
a
beautiful
prostitute
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
who lures
men
to
where
they
will
be
ruined}};
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Nineveh
is
a
beautiful
city}}
\par }{\QB which
has
attracted/enticed
{\ADD{
people
of}}
other
nations
{\ADD{
to
come
there}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
people
of
Nineveh}}
taught
those
people
{\ADD{
of
other
nations rituals
of}} magic,
\par }{\QB and
caused
them
to
become
their
slaves.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
So}}
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
says
to
{\ADD{
the
people
of
Nineveh}}:
\par }{\QB “I
am
your
enemy,
\par }{\Q and
I
will
{\ADD{
cause
the
people
in
other}}
nations
to
see
you
{\ADD{
completely}}
humiliated
\par }{\QB like [MET]
{\ADD{
women
who
have
committed
adultery
are
humiliated
by}}
having
their
skirts
lifted
high,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
with
the
result
that}}
people
can
see
their
naked
{\ADD{
bodies}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}I
will
cause
rubbish/garbage
to
be
thrown
at
you;
\par }{\QB I
will
show
{\ADD{
others}}
that
I
despise
you
very
much,
\par }{\QB and
I
will
cause
you
to
be
publicly ridiculed.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}All
those
who
see
you
will
turn
their
backs
to
you
and
say,
\par }{\Q ‘Nineveh
is
ruined,
\par }{\QB but
absolutely
no
one [RHQ]
will
mourn
for
it.’
\par }{\QB No
one
will
regret
Nineveh
being
destroyed!”
\par }{\SH The
people
of
Nineveh
will
not
be
able
to
defend
themselves
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Your
city
is
certainly [RHQ]
no safer
than
Thebes
{\ADD{
city}}
was.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Thebes
was
an
important
city}}
beside
the
Nile
{\ADD{
River}};
\par }{\QB the
river
was
{\ADD{
like}} [SIM]
a
wall
that
protected
the
city [DOU].
\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
The
rulers
of}}
Ethiopia
and
Egypt
helped
Thebes;
\par }{\QB there
was
no
limit
to
their
power.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The governments
of
the
nearby
countries
of}}
Put
and
Libya
were
also
allies
of
Thebes.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}But
Thebes
was
captured,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
its
people
were}} ◄exiled/forced
to
go
to
other
countries►.
\par }{\Q Their
babies
were
dashed
to
pieces
in
the
streets
{\ADD{
of
the
city}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Enemy
soldiers}} ◄cast
lots/threw
small
marked
stones►
to
decide
who
would
get
each
official
in
Thebes
{\ADD{
to
become
his
slave}}.
\par }{\QB All
the
leaders
of
Thebes
were
fastened/tied
by
chains.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}You
{\ADD{
people
of
Nineveh}}
will
similarly
become dazed
and
drunk,
\par }{\QB and
you
will
search
for
places
to
hide
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
to
escape}}
from
your
enemies.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
Your
enemies
will
cause}}
the
walls
around
your
city
to
fall
down
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
the
first
figs
that
fall
from
fig
trees
{\ADD{
each
year}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Your
city
will
be
captured
easily,
like}} [MET]
{\ADD{
figs
that
fall}}
into
the
mouths [HYP]
of
those
who
shake
the
fig
trees.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Look
at
your
soldiers!
\par }{\QB They
will
be
{\ADD{
as
weak/helpless
as}} [MET]
women!
\par }{\Q The
gates
of
your
city
will
be
opened
wide
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
to
allow}}
your
enemies
{\ADD{
to
enter
them}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
then}}
the
bars
of
those
gates
will
be
burned.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{14}Store
up
water
{\ADD{
now
to
use
when}}
your
enemies
surround
the
city!
\par }{\QB Repair
the
forts!
\par }{\Q Dig
up
clay
and
trample
it
{\ADD{
to
make
it
soft}},
\par }{\QB and
put
it
into molds
to
make
bricks
{\ADD{
to
repair
the
walls}}!
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
Nevertheless,
your
enemies}}
will
burn
your
{\ADD{
city}};
\par }{\QB they
will
kill
you
with
their
swords;
\par }{\QB they
will
kill
you
like [SIM]
locusts
{\ADD{
destroy
crops}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}In
your
{\ADD{
city}}
there
are
now
very
many
merchants;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
seems
that}}
there
are
more
of
them
than
there
are
stars.
\par }{\Q But
{\ADD{
when
your
city
is
being
destroyed,
those
merchants
will
take
the
valuable
things
and
disappear}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
like}} [SIM]
locusts
that
strip
the
leaves
from
plants
and
{\ADD{
then}}
fly
away.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}Your
leaders
are
{\ADD{
also}}
like
a
swarm
of [SIM]
locusts [DOU]
\par }{\QB that
crowd
together
on
the
stone fences/walls
on
a
cold
day,
\par }{\Q and
{\ADD{
then}}
fly
away
when
the
sun
comes
up,
\par }{\QB and
no
one
knows
where
they
have
gone.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}O
King
of
Assyria,
your
officials
will
{\ADD{
all}}
be
dead [EUP];
\par }{\QB your
important
people
will
lie
down
and
rest
{\ADD{
forever}}.
\par }{\Q Your
people
will
be
scattered
over
the
mountains,
\par }{\QB and
there
will
no
one
to
gather
them
{\ADD{
together}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}You
{\ADD{
are
like
someone
who}}
has
a
wound
that
cannot
be
healed;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
will
be}}
a
wound
that
causes
him
to
die.
\par }{\Q And
all
those
who
hear
about
what
has
happened
to
you
will
clap
their
hands
{\ADD{
joyfully}}.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
They
will
say,}} “Everyone
has [RHQ]
suffered
because
he
continually
was
{\ADD{
very}}
cruel
to
us.”
\par }