< Nahum 1 >
1 This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:
The prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the prophecy of Nahum, the Elkoshite.
2 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.
Jehovah is a jealous God, and an avenger; Jehovah is an avenger, and full of wrath! Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, And keepeth indignation for his enemies!
3 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.
Jehovah is slow to anger, but great in power; He will by no means clear the guilty; Jehovah cometh in the whirlwind and the storm, And the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 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.
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, And drieth up all the rivers. Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, And the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence— the world and all its dwellers.
The mountains tremble before him, And the hills melt; The earth is moved at his presence, Yea, the world and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.
Who can stand before his indignation, And who can abide before the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, And the rocks are cast down by him!
7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.
Jehovah is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; He careth for them that trust in him;
8 But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.
But with an overwhelming flood will he make a full end of her place, And darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9 Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.
What do ye meditate against Jehovah? He will make a full end; Not the second time shall the calamity come.
10 For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry.
For while they are entangled like thorns, And like those that are drunk with wine, They shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11 From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.
From thee hath gone forth one that devised evil against Jehovah; That meditated destruction.
12 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.
Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be flourishing, and likewise many, Yet shall they be cut down, and pass away; I have afflicted thee, but I will afflict thee no more.
13 For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”
For now will I break his yoke from off thee, And will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14 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.”
And concerning thee hath Jehovah given command, That thy name shall no more be sown. From the house of thy god I will cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou hast become vile!
15 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.
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, That publisheth peace! Keep, O Judah, thy feasts, perform thy vows! For no more shall the destroyer pass through thee; He is utterly consumed.