Nahum 1

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

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

2 God is jealous, and the LORD revenges; the LORD revenges, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for 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 slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, 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 rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers: Bashan languishes, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

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 melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

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

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 thrown down 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, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him.

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

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

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

9 What do all of you imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

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

10 For while they be folded together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured 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 There is one come out of you, that imagines evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

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

12 Thus says the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no 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 For now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds in two.

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

14 And the LORD has given a commandment concerning you, that no more of your name be sown: out of the house of your gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make your grave; for you are vile.

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 good tidings, that publishes peace! O Judah, keep your solemn feasts, perform your vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

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.