New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
1
A report on the problem of Nineveh, the way God gave Nahum of Elkosh to see it:
2 A jealous and avenging God is the Lord, the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and rages against his enemies.
2
God is serious business. He won't be trifled with. He avenges his foes. He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.
3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
3
But God doesn't lose his temper. He's powerful, but it's a patient power. Still, no one gets by with anything. Sooner or later, everyone pays. Tornadoes and hurricanes are the wake of his passage, Storm clouds are the dust he shakes off his feet.
4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither, and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
4
He yells at the sea: It dries up. All the rivers run dry. The Bashan and Carmel mountains shrivel, the Lebanon orchards shrivel.
5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it.
5
Mountains quake in their roots, hills dissolve into mud flats. Earth shakes in fear of God. The whole world's in a panic.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.
6
Who can face such towering anger? Who can stand up to this fierce rage? His anger spills out like a river of lava, his fury shatters boulders.
7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him,
7
God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help,
8 even in a rushing flood. He will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
8
No matter how desperate the trouble. But cozy islands of escape He wipes right off the map. No one gets away from God.
9 Why do you plot against the Lord? He will make an end; no adversary will rise up twice.
9
Why waste time conniving against God? He's putting an end to all such scheming. For troublemakers, no second chances.
10 Like thorns they are entangled, like drunkards they are drunk; they are consumed like dry straw.
10
Like a pile of dry brush, Soaked in oil, they'll go up in flames. A Think Tank for Lies
11 From you one has gone out who plots evil against the Lord, one who counsels wickedness.
11
Nineveh's an anthill of evil plots against God, A think tank for lies that seduce and betray.
12 Thus says the Lord, "Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
12
And God has something to say about all this: "Even though you're on top of the world, With all the applause and all the votes, you'll be mowed down flat. "I've afflicted you, Judah, true, but I won't afflict you again.
13 And now I will break off his yoke from you and snap the bonds that bind you."
13
From now on I'm taking the yoke from your neck and splitting it up for kindling. I'm cutting you free from the ropes of your bondage."
14 The Lord has commanded concerning you: "Your name shall be perpetuated no longer; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the cast image. I will make your grave, for you are worthless."
14
God's orders on Nineveh: "You're the end of the line. It's all over with Nineveh. I'm gutting your temple. Your gods and goddesses go in the trash. I'm digging your grave. It's an unmarked grave. You're nothing - no, you're less than nothing!"
15 Look! On the mountains the feet of one who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, fulfill your vows, for never again shall the wicked invade you; they are utterly cut off.
15
Look! Striding across the mountains - a messenger bringing the latest good news: peace! A holiday, Judah! Celebrate! Worship and recommit to God! No more worries about this enemy. This one is history. Close the books.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.