Nahum

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

1This is a heavy message about the city of Nineveh. It is the book of what Nahum saw. Nahum came from a town called Elkosh.

2God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

2The LORD wants His people to be loyal to Him alone. He pays back those who fight against Him. He is very angry with them. He saves up His anger for His enemies.

3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

3The LORD does not get angry quickly, and He is very strong. But He does not let guilty people go free. He walks in the whirlwind and the storm. The clouds are like dust under His feet.

4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

4He speaks to the sea, and it dries up. He dries up all the rivers. The green land of Bashan dries out. So do Carmel and the flowers of Lebanon.

5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

5The mountains shake when He comes near. The hills melt away. The earth trembles when He is there. So does the whole world and everyone in it.

6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

6Who can stand up to Him when He is angry? Who can last through His burning anger? His anger pours out like fire. Even rocks break apart in front of Him.

7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

7The LORD is good. He is a safe place when trouble comes. He knows and cares for the people who trust Him.

8But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

8But He will send a flood that sweeps the city away. It will be the end of that place. He will chase His enemies into the dark.

9What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

9Whatever plan you make against the LORD, He will stop it. This trouble will not come a second time.

10For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

10They will be tangled up like a bunch of thorns. They will be soaked like people who drink too much. They will burn up like dry weeds.

11There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

11Nineveh, someone came out of you who plans evil against the LORD. He gives wicked advice.

12Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

12Here is what the LORD says. "Their army is strong and there are many of them. Even so, they will be cut down and gone. Judah, I have let you suffer. I will not do that to you again."

Note"Though they be quiet" in the old English does not mean silent. It means their army is whole and unharmed.

13For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

13"Now I will break the heavy bar off your neck. I will tear off the chains that hold you."

NoteA yoke is a heavy wooden bar put on the neck of an ox to make it pull a load. Here it is a picture of one country ruling over another.

14And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

14The LORD has given an order about you, Nineveh. "No children will be left to carry your name. I will destroy the carved statues and metal statues in the temple of your gods. I will get your grave ready, because you are worthless."

15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

15Look at the mountains! Someone is running with good news. He is calling out that there is peace. Judah, hold your holy feast days. Keep the promises you made to God. The wicked enemy will never march through your land again. He is completely finished.