Nahum 1
1 THE BURDEN of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
A message about Nineveh, a vision which came to Nahum from Elkosh.
2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God, the LORD avengeth and is full of wrath; the LORD taketh vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies.
The Lord tolerates no rivals. The Lord is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The Lord does not fail to punish his foes; the Lord is vengeful against his enemies.
3 The LORD is long-suffering, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty; the LORD, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.
The Lord is slow to anger, great in power. The guilty will not escape his punishment. Storm tempest is his path and cloud is the dust of his feet.
4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers; Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
He rebukes the sea and dries it up and makes all the streams run dry. Bashan and Carmel are languishing and the bloom of Lebanon is withered.
5 The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
The mountains tremble before him and the hills dissolve. The earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it.
6 Who can stand before His indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder before Him.
Who can stand before his wrath? Who can withstand the heat of his anger? His fierce fury pours forth like fire, he shatters rocks.
7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that take refuge in Him.
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, a place of refuge in the day of trouble.
8 But with an overrunning flood He will make a full end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.
With rushing flood an end he makes of those who rise against him, he drives his enemies into darkness.
9 What do ye devise against the LORD? He will make a full end; trouble shall not rise up the second time.
Why do you plot against the Lord? He will end you. He only takes vengeance once.
10 For though they be like tangled thorns, and be drunken according to their drink, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
Thorns, tangled and drenched, they are consumed like dry stubble.
11 Out of thee came he forth, that deviseth evil against the LORD, that counselleth wickedness.
Nineveh! From you has arisen one who plots evil against the Lord, a counsellor of wickedness.
12 Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away; and though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
The Lord says: ‘Though they are many and strong, they will pass away and be gone. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more,
13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
and now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap your chains.’
14 And the LORD hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown; out of the house of thy god will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art become worthless.
The Lord has given this command concerning you, Nineveh: ‘Your name will no longer be remembered. I will destroy every idol and image in the house of your God. I will destroy even your tomb, for you are worthless.’
15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that announceth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
Look! On the mountains a messenger bringing good news, announcing peace! ‘Celebrate the feasts, Judah, fulfil your vows. Never again will these enemies invade your land, they are destroyed!’
