Nahum 1

1 The doom of Nineveh, The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

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

2 A God watchful and avenging is the Lord; an avenger is the Lord, and full of fury; the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and keepeth in mind the deeds of 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 long-suffering, and great in power, but he 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, 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 maketh it dry, and all the rivers he drieth up: Bashan then withereth, with Carmel, and the flowers of Lebanon wither.

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 Mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away; and the earth is lifted up 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, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.

6 Before his indignation who can stand? and who can subsist before the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken down 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, a strong-hold on the day of distress; and he knoweth those that trust 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 an overflowing flood will he utterly destroy the place of [Nineveh], and his enemies will he pursue with darkness.

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

9 What will you devise against the Lord? he is bringing about an utter destruction, the distress shall not rise up twice.

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

10 For they, like thorns interwoven, and as men made drunken in their drinking bout, shall be entirely consumed as dry stubble.

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

11 There is gone forth out of thee he that devised evil against the Lord, the counsellor of infamous things.

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

12 Thus hath said the Lord, Though they be complete, and ever so many, nevertheless shall they be cut down, and it shall be over [with them]: and if even I have afflicted thee, 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 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and thy bonds will I tear asunder.

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

14 But against thee hath the Lord decreed, that no heir of thy name shall be any more: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven and the molten image; I will prepare thy grave [there]; for thou art made vile.

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 are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, Celebrate thy feasts, O Judah, fulfill thy vows; for never more shall the wicked pass again through thee, 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.