THE

PROPHET NAHUM.

VOL. II.

1

NAHUM.

CH. 1.]

INSCRIPTION.

1 The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the prophecy of Nahum, the Elkoshite.

2

The Siege and Destruction of Nineveh. —CH, I–III.

1.

JEHOVAH is a jealous God, and an avenger;
Jehovah is an avenger, and full of wrath!
Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries,
And keepeth indignation for his enemies!
3 Jehovah is slow to anger, but great in

power;

He will by no means clear the guilty;
Jehovah cometh in the whirlwind and the storm,
And the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry,
And drieth up all the rivers.

Bashan languisheth, and Carmel,

And the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5 The mountains tremble before him, And the hills melt;

The earth is moved at his presence,

Yea, the world and all that dwell therein.

6 Who can stand before his indignation,

And who can abide before the fierceness of his anger?

His fury is poured out like fire,

And the rocks are cast down by him!

7 Jehovah is good,

A strong-hold in the day of trouble;

He careth for them that trust in him;

8 But with an overflowing torrent will he make a full end of her place,

And darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What do ye meditate against Jehovah?

He will make a full end;

Not the second time shall the calamity come. 10 For while they are entangled like thorns,

And like those that are drunk with wine,

They shall be devoured, as stubble fully dry.

11 From thee hath gone forth one that devised evil against Jehovah ;

That meditated destruction.

12 Thus saith Jehovah;

Though they be flourishing, and likewise many,
Yet shall they be cut down, and pass away;

I have afflicted thee, but I will afflict thee no more. 13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee,

And will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 And concerning thee hath Jehovah given command, That thy name shall no more be sown.

From the house of thy god I will cut off the graven image and the molten image;

I have made thy grave for thee; for thou hast become vile!

2.

15

BEHOLD upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,

That publisheth peace!

Keep, O Judah, thy feasts, perform thy vows!

For no more shall the destroyer pass through thee;
He is utterly consumed.

1 The ravager cometh up against thee; [O Nineveh,]
Guard the fortress; watch the way;

Gird up the loins; confirm the strength.

2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, As the excellency of Israel;

For the wasters have wasted them,

And destroyed their branches.

3 The shields of his mighty men are red,

His warriors are clothed in crimson;

His chariots glitter with the fire of steel in the day of

his preparation,

And the spears are brandished.

4 The chariots rave in the streets;

They run to and fro in the broad ways;

Their appearance is like torches ;

They run like lightnings.

5 He calleth for his mighty men ; They stumble on their way; They hasten to the wall;

The assault-shelter is prepared.

6 The gates of rivers are opened,

And the palace is destroyed and disappears.

7 She shall be uncovered; she shall be carried away cap

tive;

Her maids shall sigh with the voice of doves,