Nahum 1

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

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

2 YHWH is a jealous God and avenges. YHWH avenges and is full of wrath. YHWH takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against 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 will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. YHWH has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are 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 rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

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 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 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 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 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 YHWH is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge 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 But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

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

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

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

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

12 Thus says YHWH: "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.

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

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

14 YHWH 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 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 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.

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.