Superscription
Half-Acrostic: Yahweh Takes Vengeance Against His Enemies
2 The Lord is a zealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and very angry. The Lord takes vengeance against his foes; he sustains his rage against his enemies.
2 God 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.
2 A (C)jealous and avenging God is the Lord;The Lord is (D)avenging and (b)wrathful.The Lord takes (E)vengeance on His adversaries,And He reserves wrath for His enemies.
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;the Lord takes vengeanceand is fierce in(a) wrath.The Lord takes vengeance against His foes;He is furious with His enemies.(B)
2 A jealous God, the LORD avenges. The LORD avenges; The Lord is an angry husband. The LORD takes vengeance on his enemies, reserving anger for his adversaries.
3 He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.
3 The 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.
3 The Lord is (F)slow to anger and great in power,And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.In (G)whirlwind and storm is His way,And (H)clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
3 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.
3 The LORD is slow to anger and powerful, and he will never let the guilty go unpunished. The LORD's path is in the windstorm and hurricane; thunderclouds are dust beneath his feet.
4 He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon withers.
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.
4 He (I)rebukes the sea and makes it dry;He dries up all the rivers.(J)Bashan and Carmel wither;The blossoms of Lebanon wither.
4 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.
4 He rebukes the sea, and it evaporates; he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, while the flowers of Lebanon languish.
5 The mountains tremble before him, the hills convulse; the earth is laid waste before him, the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste.
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
5 Mountains (K)quake because of HimAnd the hills (L)dissolve;Indeed the earth is (M)upheaved by His presence,The (N)world and all the inhabitants in it.
5 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)
5 Mountains shake because of him, and the hills melt. The earth goes into upheaval at his presence, as does the world with all of its inhabitants.
6 No one can withstand his indignation! No one can resist his fierce anger! His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire, boulders are broken up as he approaches.
6 Who 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.
6 (O)Who can stand before His indignation?Who can endure the (P)burning of His anger?His (Q)wrath is poured out like fireAnd the (R)rocks are broken up by Him.
6 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.
6 Who can stand before his fury? And who can endure his fierce anger? His displeasure pours out like fire, and rocks are broken to pieces because of him.
Destruction Of Nineveh
7 The Lord is good -- indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
7 The Lord is (S)good,A stronghold in the day of trouble,And (T)He knows those who take refuge in Him.
7 The LORD is good a refuge in troubled times. He knows those who are confiding in him.
8 But with an overwhelming flood he will make a complete end of Nineveh; he will drive his enemies into darkness.
8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
8 But with an (U)overflowing floodHe will make a complete end of (c)its site,And will pursue His enemies into (V)darkness.
8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh(d)with an overwhelming flood,(I)and He will chase His enemies into darkness.
8 But with an overwhelming deluge he will bring utter desolation to Nineveh, and his enemies he will pursue with darkness.
Yahweh Will Destroy Nineveh
9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy! Distress will not arise a second time.
9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
9 Whatever you (W)devise against the Lord,He will make a (X)complete end of it.Distress will not rise up twice.
9 Whatever you(e) plot against the Lord,He will bring it to complete destruction;(J)oppression will not rise up a second time.
9 What are you scheming against the LORD? He will bring about utter desolation adversity will not strike twice!
10 Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thorn bushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.
10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
10 Like tangled (Y)thorns,And like those who are (Z)drunken with their drink,They are (AA)consumedAs stubble completely withered.
10 For they will be consumedlike entangled thorns,(K)like the drink of a drunkardand like straw that is fully dry.(f)
10 Indeed, while tangled as by a thorn bush, while drunken as by a strong drink, the Ninevites will be burned like dry straw.
Yahweh Will Deliver Judah And Destroy Nineveh
12 This is what the Lord says: "Even though they are powerful -- and what is more, even though their army is numerous -- nevertheless, they will be destroyed and trickle away! Although I afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
12 Thus 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.
12 Thus says the Lord,“Though they are at full strength and likewise many,Even so, they will be (AD)cut off and pass away.Though I have afflicted you,I will afflict you (AE)no longer.
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)
12 This is what the LORD says: "No matter how strong they are, and no matter how numerous, they will surely be annihilated and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will do so no more.
13 And now, I will break Assyria's yoke bar from your neck; I will tear apart the shackles that are on you."
13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
13 For I will now break off his yoke from youand tear off your shackles.
13 Now I will break off Assyria's yoke from you, and tear apart your shackles."
The Assyrian King's Demise
14 The Lord has issued a decree against you: "Your dynasty will come to an end. I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods. I will desecrate your grave -- because you are accursed!"
14 And 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.
14 The Lord has issued a command concerning (e)you:“(f)Your name will (AG)no longer be perpetuated.I will cut off (g)(AH)idol and (h)imageFrom the house of your gods.I will prepare your (AI)grave,For you are contemptible.”
14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:There will be no offspringto carry on your name.(k)(N)I will eliminate the carved idol and cast imagefrom the house of your gods;(O)I will prepare your grave,for you are contemptible.
14 Now this is what the Lord has decreed about you, Nineveh: "There will be no more children born to carry on your name. I will cut out the graven and molten images from the temples of your gods. I myself will dig your grave, because you are vile."
An Army Will Conquer Nineveh
15 Look! A herald is running on the mountains! A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: "Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah! Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you, they have been completely destroyed."
15 Behold 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.
15 (i)Behold, (AJ)on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news,Who announces peace!(AK)Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;Pay your vows.For (AL)never again will the (j)wicked one pass through you;He is (AM)cut off completely.
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 againmarch through you;he will be entirely wiped out.
15 Look! There on the mountains! The feet of the one who brings good news, who broadcasts a message of peace. Judah, celebrate your solemn festivals and keep your vows, because the wicked will never again invade you. Nineveh will be completely eliminated!