Nahum 1

1 The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elcesite.

An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger, and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is angry with his enemies.

The LORD is a jealous God and avenges. The LORD avenges and is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.

3 The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and acquit the guilty. The Lord’s ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebuketh the sea, and drieth it up: and bringeth all the rivers to be a desert. Basan languisheth and Carmel: and the dower of Libanus fadeth away.

He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

5 The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that dwell therein.

The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.

6 Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out like fire: and the rocks are melted by him.

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.

7 The Lord is good and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and knoweth them that hope in him.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.

8 But with a flood that passeth by, he will make an utter end of the place thereof: and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

9 What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end: there shall not rise a double affliction.

What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won't rise up the second time.

10 For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry.

For entangled like thorns, and drunk as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.

11 Out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the Lord, contriving treachery in his mind.

There is one gone forth out of you, who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.

12 Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted thee, and I will afflict thee no more.

Thus says the LORD: "Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

13 And now I will break in pieces his rod with which he struck thy back, and I will burst thy bonds asunder.

Now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart."

14 And the Lord will give a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name shall be sown: I will destroy the graven and molten thing out of the house of thy God, I will make it thy grave, for thou art disgraced.

The LORD has commanded concerning you: "No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, will I cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile."

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: O Juda, keep thy festivals, and pay thy vows: for Belial shall no more pass through thee again, he is utterly cut off.

Look, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace. Keep your feasts, Judah. Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.