The Burden against Nineveh (Jonah 1:1–3)
1 UDB I am Nahum, from the village of Elkosh. This is a message about the city of Nineveh, a message that Yahweh gave me in a vision. BSB BSB: This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
2 UDB Yahweh our God tolerates no rival gods to himself. He is very angry with those who worship other gods, and he continues to be angry with his enemies. BSB BSB: The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies.
3 UDB Yahweh does not quickly become angry; but he is very powerful, and he will never say that his enemies are innocent. Wherever he walks, there are whirlwinds and storms, and clouds are like the dust stirred up by his feet. BSB BSB: The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
4 UDB When he commands oceans and rivers to become dry, they dry up. He causes the grass to wither in the fields in the region of Bashan and on the slopes of Mount Carmel, and he causes the flowers in Lebanon to fade. BSB BSB: He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.
5 UDB When he appears, it is as though the mountains shake and the hills melt; the earth quakes, and the people on the earth tremble. BSB BSB: The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
6 UDB There is no one who can resist him when he becomes extremely angry; there is no one who can survive when his anger is very hot. When he is very angry, it is as though his anger is like a blazing fire, and it is as though mountains are shattered into pieces. BSB BSB: Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
7 UDB But he is good; he protects us, his people, when we experience troubles. He takes care of those who trust in him. BSB BSB: The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
8 UDB But he will get rid of his enemies; he will be to them like a flood that destroys everything. He will chase his enemies into the darkness of the place where the dead are. BSB BSB: But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
9 UDB So it is useless for you people of Nineveh to plot against Yahweh. He will not need to strike you two times to destroy you; he will destroy you by striking you only once. BSB BSB: Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.
10 UDB It will be as though his enemies are tangled in thorns and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine. It will be as though they will be burned up like dry stubble. BSB BSB: For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard—like stubble that is fully dry.
11 UDB In Nineveh there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things against Yahweh. BSB BSB: From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.
12 UDB But this is what Yahweh says to you Israelites: "Although the people of Assyria have very many people and their army is very powerful, they will be destroyed and they will disappear. I say to my people in Judah, I have already punished you, but I will not punish you again. BSB BSB: This is what the LORD says: “Though they are allied and numerous, yet they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, O Judah, I will afflict you no longer.
13 UDB Now I will cause the people of Assyria to no longer enslave you; it will be as though I will tear off the shackles on your hands and feet." BSB BSB: For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”
14 UDB And this is what Yahweh also declares about you people of Nineveh: "You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names. And I will destroy all the statues of your gods that were carved or formed in molds. I will cause you to be killed and sent to your graves, because you are vile!" BSB BSB: The LORD has issued a command concerning you, O Nineveh: “There will be no descendants to carry on your name. I will cut off the carved image and cast idol from the house of your gods; I will prepare your grave, for you are contemptible.”
15 UDB You people of Judah. Look! A messenger will come across the mountains, and he will bring good news to you. He will declare that you will now have peace. So celebrate your festivals, and do what you solemnly promised to do when your enemies were threatening to attack you, because your wicked enemies will not invade your country again, because they will be completely destroyed. BSB BSB: Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.