Nahum 1

1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

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

2 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.

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.

3 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.

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.

4 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.

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.

5 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.

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.

6 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

10 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.

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

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

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

12 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.

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.

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

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

14 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.

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.

15 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.

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.