The oracle concerning Nineveh.(A) The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God’s Vengeance

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord takes vengeance
and is fierce in[a] wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;
He is furious with His enemies.(B)
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.(C)
His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
He rebukes the sea so that it dries up,
and He makes all the rivers run dry.(D)
Bashan and Carmel wither;(E)
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles[b][c] at His presence—
the world and all who live in it.(F)
Who can withstand His indignation?
Who can endure His burning anger?(G)
His wrath is poured out like fire,
even rocks are shattered before Him.

Destruction of Nineveh

The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
He cares for those who take refuge(H) in Him.
But He will completely destroy Nineveh[d]
with an overwhelming flood,(I)
and He will chase His enemies into darkness.

Whatever you[e] plot against the Lord,
He will bring it to complete destruction;(J)
oppression will not rise up a second time.
10 For they will be consumed
like entangled thorns,(K)
like the drink of a drunkard
and like straw that is fully dry.[f]
11 One has gone out from you,[g]
who plots evil against Yahweh,
and is a wicked counselor.

Promise of Judah’s Deliverance

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong[h] and numerous,
they will still be mowed down,
and he[i] will pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,[j](L)
I will afflict you no longer.(M)
13 For I will now break off his yoke from you
and tear off your shackles.

The Assyrian King’s Demise

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring
to carry on your name.[k](N)
I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image
from the house of your gods;(O)
I will prepare your grave,
for you are contemptible.

15 [l]Look to the mountains—
the feet of one bringing good news(P)
and proclaiming peace!
Celebrate your festivals, Judah;
fulfill your vows.
For the wicked one will never again
march through you;
he will be entirely wiped out.


  1. Nahum 1:2 Lit is a master of
  2. Nahum 1:5 Some emend to earth is laid waste
  3. Nahum 1:5 Lit lifts
  4. Nahum 1:8 Lit her place
  5. Nahum 1:9 = Nineveh
  6. Nahum 1:10 Hb obscure
  7. Nahum 1:11 Possibly Nineveh
  8. Nahum 1:12 Lit intact
  9. Nahum 1:12 Either the king of Assyria or his army
  10. Nahum 1:12 = Judah
  11. Nahum 1:14 Lit It will not be sown from your name any longer
  12. Nahum 1:15 Nah 2:1 in Hb