The Abridged Book of Nahum

1:1. This is a message about Nineveh, written down by Nahum from Elkosh as a vision.

1:2. God feels very protective and responds strongly against those who act unjustly; God fiercely responds to injustice, keeping anger for those who are enemies.

1:3. God does not quickly get angry but is very powerful, and will not let those who do bad things go unpunished. God controls the powerful forces of nature like whirlwinds and storms, and even the clouds are as dust beneath God's feet.

1:4. God has the power to control the sea, can dry it up, and can drain all the rivers. The areas of Bashan, Carmel, and all the beautiful parts of Lebanon feel this power.

1:5. Mountains tremble because of God, hills dissolve, and the earth burns when God is near; everything in the world feels his presence.

1:6. Who can withstand God's intense displeasure? And who can endure when God is extremely angry? Oliverick wrath pours out like fire from heaven causing even rocks to break apart.

1:7. Nevertheless, in times of difficulty, God is good and a source of strength; thus understanding those who have confidence in divine protection.

1:8. However, when catastrophic destruction comes it will sweep away everything completely; even shadows will chase down those who stand against God.

1:9. Why are you plotting against God? God will completely destroy such plans: trouble like that won't happen again.

1:10. Even if they are tangled up like thorns, or drunk like someone who's had too much wine, they'll be burned up completely like dry straw.

1:11. Someone from your community is planning harm against God, offering bad advice.

1:12. God says, even if they're calm and many, they will still be mowed down when God takes action. Although you have faced challenges from God, you won't face them anymore.

1:13. For now, God will remove the oppression that weighs on you and break the chains that bind you.

1:14. And God has decreed that your legacy will not continue: from the temples of your gods, both carved and cast idols will be eliminated; God has decided to make this your grave because of your grave offenses.

1:15. Look! On the mountains, messengers are arriving with good news of peace! Oh people of Judah, celebrate your festivals and fulfill your promises: those who do harm have been permanently removed from your land.

2:1. Be prepared—someone ready to destroy is coming to attack. Defend yourself, watch carefully, get ready, and strengthen your defenses!

2:2. Because God has reduced the pride of this place, the pride that Jacob and Israel once had, as destroying forces have stripped them bare and ruined their productive fields.

2:3. The soldiers' shields are painted red, and the warriors are dressed in bright red. The war chariots will blaze like torches when it's time to fight, and the trees will shake with fear.

2:4. The war chariots will speed wildly through the streets, crashing into each other in the wide roads. They'll look like bright torches and move as fast as lightning.

2:5. The commander will call out his elite fighters, who will trip and rush over each other to get to the city walls that are about to be attacked.

2:6. The city gates by the rivers will swing open, and the palace itself will collapse.

2:7. Then Huzzab will be captured; she'll be dragged away, with her servants moaning softly like doves and beating their chests in sorrow.

2:8. Nineveh has been around a long time, as stable as a pond, but its people will run away. Even if someone yells for them to stand firm, no one will turn back.

2:9. Help yourselves to the treasures of silver and gold; there's no end to the wealth and all the fancy items they possess.

2:10. The city is left empty, deserted, and ruined. Terror grips the heart, knees knock together in fear; everyone is in severe pain, and their faces are drained of color.

2:11. Where is the home where the mighty lions lived and where their cubs were fed without fear? Where once the lion and its cubs roamed freely and no one scared them?

2:12. The lion used to kill enough to feed its young ones and provide for its mate, filling its caves with prey and its dens with food from its hunts.

2:13. Pay attention – I am against you, declares God Almighty. I will destroy your chariots in fire, your young warriors will fall by the sword; I'll put an end to your hunting on earth, and your messengers' voices will be silenced forever.

3:1. Oh, the violent city! It's completely riddled with deceit and thievery; the victims never escape.

3:2. Listen to the crack of whips and the clatter of wheels, to the galloping horses and bounding chariots.

3:3. The cavalry charges forward, swords flashing and spears shimmering. Countless people are killed; there are dead bodies everywhere, so many that people trip over them.

3:4. All this is due to the many betrayals by a gorgeous prostitute well-practiced in magic, who trades whole nations with her charm and families with her spells.

3:5. Listen, I am against you, declares God; I will lift your skirts over your face to show the nations your shame and expose your degradation to kingdoms.

3:6. I will throw disgusting filth on you, degrade you publicly, and turn you into something people point at in shock.

3:7. Everyone who sees you will run away and say, 'Nineveh is destroyed! Who could possibly feel sorry for it? Where could I find anyone to comfort it?'

3:8. Are you any better than Thebes, which sat by the Nile surrounded by water? The sea was her defense; her wall was from the sea.

3:9. Cush and Egypt gave unlimited strength; Put and Libya were your allies.

3:10. Even so, Thebes went into exile; she was captured and her infants were brutally killed at every street corner. They cast lots for her leaders, and all her important people were shackled with chains.

3:11. You'll be overwhelmed and go into hiding, seeking protection from your foes.

3:12. Your defenses will be as fragile as ripe figs; if touched, they will fall easily into the intruder's grasp.

3:13. Your people won't have the strength to fight, and your enemies will breach your borders effortlessly, destroying all barriers.

3:14. Make preparations for a long siege; reinforce your defenses, work with clay and strengthen the walls.

3:15. Yet this effort will be in vain; your enemies will spread through you like a quick-spreading disease, no matter how numerous you become.

3:16. You've let commerce grow vastly, yet like an infestation that ruins and then disappears, it cannot be relied upon for strength.

3:17. Your leaders are numerous yet as ineffective as swarms of locusts that settle temporarily and then vanish at the first sign of change without a trace.

3:18. O Assyrian monarch, your guardians are not vigilant; your elite are in decline, and your populace is dispersed with no one to unite them.

3:19. Your deep-seated problems cannot be fixed; everyone aware of you will be happy at your downfall because everyone has felt the impact of your harmful actions without exception.