Naum 1

1 The burden of Nineve: the book of the vision of Naum the Elkesite.

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

2 God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges with wrath; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he cuts off his enemies.

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 The Lord is longsuffering, and his power is great, and the Lord will not hold any guiltless: his way is in destruction and in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

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 He threatens the sea, and dries it up, and exhausts all the rivers: the land of Basan, and Carmel are brought low, and the flourishing [trees] of Libanus have come to nothing.

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 The mountains quake at him, and the hills are shaken, and the earth recoils at his presence, [even] the world, and all that dwell in it.

The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence— the world and all its dwellers.

6 Who shall stand before his anger? and who shall withstand in the anger of his wrath? his wrath brings to nothing kingdoms, and the rocks are burst asunder by him.

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 The Lord is good to them that wait on him in the day of affliction; and he knows them that reverence him.

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

8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end: darkness shall pursue those that rise up against [him] and his enemies.

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

9 What do you devise against the Lord? he will make a complete end: he will not take vengeance by affliction twice at the same time.

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

10 For [the enemy] shall be laid bare even to the foundation, and shall be devoured as twisted yew, and as stubble fully dry.

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

11 Out of you shall proceed a device against the Lord, counselling evil things hostile [to him].

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

12 Thus says the Lord who rules over many waters, Even thus shall they be sent away, and the report of you shall not be heard any more.

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 And now will I break his rod from off you, and will burst [your] bonds.

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

14 And the Lord shall give a command concerning you; there shall no more of your name be scattered: I will utterly destroy the graven [images] out of the house of your god, and the molten [images]: I will make your grave; for [they are] swift.

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 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings glad tidings, and publishes peace! O Juda, keep your feasts, pay your vows: for they shall no more pass through you to [your] decay.

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.