Nahum 1
1 A prophecy about Nineveh: the scroll of the vision that came to Nahum the Elkoshite.
Burden of Nineveh. The Book of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God—the Lord God is avenging and angry. The Lord takes vengeance on his enemies, he is angry with those who are hostile to him.
A God zealous and avenging [is] Jehovah, An avenger [is] Jehovah, and possessing fury. An avenger [is] Jehovah on His adversaries, And He is watching for His enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to become angry, has great power, and will not leave the guilty unpunished. He walks among the whirlwind and the storm; the clouds are like dust beneath his feet.
Jehovah [is] slow to anger, and great in power, And Jehovah doth not entirely acquit, In a hurricane and in a tempest [is] His way, And a cloud [is] the dust of His feet.
4 He commands the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon fades.
He is pushing against a sea, and drieth it up, Yea, all the floods He hath made dry, Languishing [are] Bashan and Carmel, Yea, the flower of Lebanon [is] languishing.
5 Mountains quake in his presence; hills melt away. The earth trembles before him—the whole world and everyone who lives there.
Mountains have shaken because of Him, And the hills have been melted; And lifted up [is] the earth at His presence, And the world and all dwelling in it.
6 Who can withstand his fury? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His rage pours out like molten fire; he shatters rocks to pieces.
Before His indignation who doth stand? And who riseth up in the heat of His anger? His fury hath been poured out like fire, And the rocks have been broken by Him.
7 The Lord is good, a place of safety in a time of trouble. He takes care of those who place their trust in him,
Good [is] Jehovah for a strong place in a day of distress. And He knoweth those trusting in Him.
8 but those who oppose him will be swept away by a tremendous flood to their destruction. He pursues his enemies into the darkness of death.
And with a flood passing over, An end He maketh of its place, And His enemies doth darkness pursue.
9 Why are you plotting against the Lord? He will end it completely; misery won't arise twice.
What do we devise against Jehovah? An end He is making, arise not twice doth distress.
10 They entangle themselves like people caught in thorn bushes; they are like drunks full of drink. They will be completely burned up like dry straw.
For while princes [are] perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.
11 One of you is plotting evil against the Lord, someone who is planning wickedness.
From thee hath come forth a deviser of evil Against Jehovah — a worthless counsellor.
12 This is what the Lord says: Even though they are strong and numerous, they will be cut down and they will pass away. Though I have caused you trouble, I will not do so anymore.
Thus said Jehovah: Though complete, and thus many, Yet thus they have been cut off, And he hath passed away. And I afflicted thee, I afflict thee no more.
13 Now I will break their yoke from your necks and tear away the chains which bind you.
And now I break his rod from off thee, And thy bands I do draw away.
14 This is what the Lord has ordered concerning you. You will have no descendants to carry on your name. I will destroy the gods in your temples, all the wooden and metal idols. I am digging your grave, for you are depraved.
And commanded concerning thee hath Jehovah, 'No more of thy name doth spread abroad, From the house of thy gods I cut off graven and molten image, I appoint thy grave, for thou hast been vile.
15 Look! A messenger is coming over the mountains, bringing good news and proclaiming peace. Judah, celebrate your religious festivals and keep your vows, for never again will wicked enemies invade your land—they will be completely destroyed.
Lo, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals, complete thy vows, For add no more to pass over into thee doth the worthless, He hath been completely cut off!
