1:4 For this reason the law lacks power, 1
and justice is never carried out. 2
Indeed, 3 the wicked intimidate 4 the innocent. 5
For this reason justice is perverted. 6
1:17 Will he then 7 continue to fill and empty his throw net? 8
Will he always 9 destroy 10 nations and spare none? 11
1:16 Because of his success 12 he offers sacrifices to his throw net
and burns incense to his dragnet; 13
for because of them he has plenty of food, 14
and more than enough to eat. 15
1:15 The Babylonian tyrant 16 pulls them all up with a fishhook;
he hauls them in with his throw net. 17
When he catches 18 them in his dragnet,
he is very happy. 19
1 tn Heb “the law is numb,” i.e., like a hand that has “fallen asleep” (see Ps 77:2). Cf. NAB “is benumbed”; NIV “is paralyzed.”
2 tn Heb “never goes out.”
3 tn Or “for.”
4 tn Heb “surround” (so NASB, NRSV).
5 tn Or “righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
6 tn Heb “comes out crooked.”
7 tn Or “therefore.”
8 tn Heb “Will he then empty his throw net?” The words “continue to fill and” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
9 tn Or “continually.”
10 tn Heb “kill.”
11 tn Or “without showing compassion.”
13 tn Heb “therefore.”
14 sn The fishing implements (throw net and dragnet) represent Babylonian military might. The prophet depicts the Babylonians as arrogantly worshiping their own power (sacrifices…burns incense, see also v. 11b).
15 tn Heb “for by them his portion is full [or, “fat”].”
16 tn Heb “and his food is plentiful [or, “fat”].”
19 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Babylonian tyrant) has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NASB “The Chaldeans”; NIV “The wicked foe”; NRSV “The enemy”). Babylonian imperialism is here compared to a professional fisherman who repeatedly brings in his catch and has plenty to eat.
20 tn Apparently two different types of fishing nets are referred to here. The חֵרֶם (kherem, “throw net”) was used by fishermen standing on the shore (see Ezek 47:10), while the מִכְמֶרֶת (mikhmeret, “dragnet”) was used by men in a boat. See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 165.
21 tn Heb “and he gathers.”
22 tn Heb “Therefore he is happy and rejoices.” Here two synonyms are joined for emphasis.