Nahum 1

1 The word about 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 God who takes care of his honour and gives punishment for wrong; the Lord gives punishment and is angry; the Lord sends punishment on those who are against him, being angry with his haters.

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 get angry and great in power, and will not let the sinner go without punishment: the way of the Lord is in the wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of 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 says sharp words to the sea and makes it dry, drying up all the rivers: Bashan is feeble, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon is without strength.

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 are shaking because of him, and the hills flowing away; the earth is falling to bits before him, the world and all who are in it.

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 may keep his place before his wrath? and who may undergo the heat of his passion? his wrath is let loose like fire and the rocks are broken open by 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 strong place in the day of trouble; and he has knowledge of those who take him for their safe cover.

Jehovah is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; He careth for them that trust in him;

8 But like water overflowing he will take them away; he will put an end to those who come up against him, driving his haters into the dark.

But with an overwhelming flood will he make a full end of her place, And darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 What are you designing against the Lord? he will put an end to it: his haters will not come up again 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 though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass 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 One has gone out from you who is designing evil against the Lord, whose purposes are of no value.

From thee hath gone forth one that devised evil against Jehovah; That meditated destruction.

12 This is what the Lord has said: The days of my cause against you are ended; they are cut off and past. Though I have sent trouble on you, you will no longer be troubled.

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 And now I will let his yoke be broken off you, and your chains be parted.

For now will I break his yoke from off thee, And will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 The Lord has given an order about you, that no more of your name are to be planted: from the house of your gods I will have the pictured and metal images cut off; I will make your last resting-place a place of shame; for you are completely evil.

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 See on the mountains the feet of him who comes with good news, giving word of peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah, give effect to your oaths: for the good-for-nothing man will never again go through you; he is completely 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.