Nahum 1
1 An oracle about 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 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.
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 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.
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 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 and makes all the streams run dry. Bashan and Carmel are languishing and the bloom of Lebanon is withered.
5 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.
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? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by 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 knows those who 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 overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
With rushing flood an end he makes of those who rise against him, he drives his enemies into darkness.
9 What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won't rise up the second time.
Why do you plot against the Lord? He will end you. He only takes vengeance once.
10 For entangled like thorns, and drunk as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
Thorns, tangled and drenched, they are consumed like dry stubble.
11 There is one gone forth out of you, who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.
Nineveh! From you has arisen one who plots evil against the Lord, a counsellor of wickedness.
12 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.
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 Now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart."
and now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap your chains.’
14 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."
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 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.
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!’
