Nahum 1

1 Burden of Nineveh. The Scroll of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The word about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 A God zealous and avenging [is] YHWH, An avenger [is] YHWH, and possessing fury. An avenger [is] YHWH on His adversaries, And He is watching for His enemies.

The Lord is a God who takes care of his honour and gives punishment for wrong; the Lord gives punishment and is angry; the Lord sends punishment on those who are against him, being angry with his haters.

3 YHWH [is] slow to anger, and great in power, And YHWH does not entirely acquit, In a windstorm and in a storm [is] His way, And a cloud [is] the dust of His feet.

The Lord is slow to get angry and great in power, and will not let the sinner go without punishment: the way of the Lord is in the wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He is pushing against a sea, and dries it up, Indeed, He has made all the floods dry, Bashan and Carmel [are] languishing, Indeed, the flower of Lebanon [is] languishing.

He says sharp words to the sea and makes it dry, drying up all the rivers: Bashan is feeble, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon is without strength.

5 Mountains have shaken because of Him, And the hills have been melted; And the earth [is] lifted up at His presence, And the world and all dwelling in it.

The mountains are shaking because of him, and the hills flowing away; the earth is falling to bits before him, the world and all who are in it.

6 Who stands before His indignation? And who rises up in the heat of His anger? His fury has been poured out like fire, And the rocks have been broken by Him.

Who may keep his place before his wrath? and who may undergo the heat of his passion? his wrath is let loose like fire and the rocks are broken open by him.

7 Good [is] YHWH for a strong place in a day of distress. And He knows those trusting in Him.

The Lord is good, a strong place in the day of trouble; and he has knowledge of those who take him for their safe cover.

8 And with a flood passing over, An end He makes of its place, And darkness pursues His enemies.

But like water overflowing he will take them away; he will put an end to those who come up against him, driving his haters into the dark.

9 What do we devise against YHWH? He is making an end, distress does not arise twice.

What are you designing against the Lord? he will put an end to it: his haters will not come up again a second time.

10 For while princes [are] perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.

For though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass fully dry.

11 From you has come forth a deviser of evil Against YHWH—a worthless counselor.

One has gone out from you who is designing evil against the Lord, whose purposes are of no value.

12 Thus said YHWH: “Though complete, and thus many, Yet thus they have been cut off, And he has passed away. Though I afflicted you, I afflict you no longer.

This is what the Lord has said: The days of my cause against you are ended; they are cut off and past. Though I have sent trouble on you, you will no longer be troubled.

13 And now I break his rod from off you, And your bands I draw away.”

And now I will let his yoke be broken off you, and your chains be parted.

14 And YHWH has commanded concerning you, “No more of your name spreads abroad, I cut off carved and molten image from the house of your gods, I appoint your grave, for you have been vile.”

The Lord has given an order about you, that no more of your name are to be planted: from the house of your gods I will have the pictured and metal images cut off; I will make your last resting-place a place of shame; for you are completely evil.

15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, your festivals, complete your vows, For the worthless no longer pass over into you, He has been completely cut off!

See on the mountains the feet of him who comes with good news, giving word of peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah, give effect to your oaths: for the good-for-nothing man will never again go through you; he is completely cut off.