Nahum 1

1 This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision 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.

God is a rival, and the Lord is avenging. The Lord is avenging, and one who applies wrath. The Lord is avenging with his enemies, and he becomes angry with his adversaries.

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.

The Lord is patient and great in strength, and those who are not clean, he makes innocent. The Lord is in a tempest, and his way is a whirlwind, and the clouds are dust at 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 is the one who rebukes the sea, and who dries it up, and who leads all the rivers to the desert. Basan has been weakened, and also Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon has languished.

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 have trembled before him, and the hills have become desolate, and the earth has quaked before his face, both the world and all that dwells in it.

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 firm before the face of his indignation? And who can continue against the fury of his wrath? His indignation has broken out like a fire, and the rocks have been dissolved before him.

7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.

The Lord is good, and a comforter in the day of tribulation, and he knows those who hope in him.

8 But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness.

And in the flood that passes over, he brings to consummation the end of his place. And darkness shall pursue his adversaries.

9 Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time.

What are you thinking up against the Lord? He will accomplish the consummation. There shall not rise up a double tribulation.

10 For they will be entangled as with thorns and consumed like the drink of a drunkard— like stubble that is fully dry.

For just as thorns entwine one another, so also, while they are feasting and drinking together, they will be consumed like stubble that is completely dry.

11 From you, O Nineveh, comes forth a plotter of evil against the LORD, a counselor of wickedness.

Out of you will go forth one who thinks up evil against the Lord, dragging betrayals through his mind.

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 says the Lord: If they had been perfect, and many of them so, yet still they would be pruned, and it will cross through them. I have afflicted you, and I shall afflict you no more.

13 For I will now break their yoke from your neck and tear away your shackles.”

And now I will shatter his rod from your back, and I will break open your bonds.

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 the Lord will place a commandment over you; nothing more from your name will be sown. From the house of your God, I will order destroyed the graven image and the molten image. I will prepare your grave, because you are not honorable.

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, over the mountains, the feet of the Evangelizer and the Announcer of peace. Judah, celebrate your festivals and keep your vows. For Belial will never again pass through you; he has completely passed away.