Nahum 1
1 Burden of Nineveh. The Scroll of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
A prophecy about Nineveh: the scroll of the vision that came to 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 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.
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 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.
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 commands the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon fades.
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.
Mountains quake in his presence; hills melt away. The earth trembles before him—the whole world and everyone who lives there.
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 can withstand his fury? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His rage pours out like molten fire; he shatters rocks to pieces.
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 place of safety in a time of trouble. He takes care of those who place their trust in him,
8 And with a flood passing over, An end He makes of its place, And darkness pursues His enemies.
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.
9 What do we devise against YHWH? He is making an end, distress does not arise twice.
Why are you plotting against the Lord? He will end it completely; misery won't arise twice.
10 For while princes [are] perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.
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.
11 From you has come forth a deviser of evil Against YHWH—a worthless counselor.
One of you is plotting evil against the Lord, someone who is planning wickedness.
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 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.
13 And now I break his rod from off you, And your bands I draw away.”
Now I will break their yoke from your necks and tear away the chains which bind you.
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.”
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.
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!
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.
