Nahum 1

1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 The LORD is a jealous God and avengeth; the LORD avengeth and is full of wrath; the LORD taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.

God is a rival, and the Lord is avenging. The Lord is avenging, and one who applies wrath. The Lord is avenging with his enemies, and he becomes angry with his adversaries.

3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

The Lord is patient and great in strength, and those who are not clean, he makes innocent. The Lord is in a tempest, and his way is a whirlwind, and the clouds are dust at his feet.

4 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

He is the one who rebukes the sea, and who dries it up, and who leads all the rivers to the desert. Basan has been weakened, and also Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon has languished.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

The mountains have trembled before him, and the hills have become desolate, and the earth has quaked before his face, both the world and all that dwells in it.

6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.

Who can stand firm before the face of his indignation? And who can continue against the fury of his wrath? His indignation has broken out like a fire, and the rocks have been dissolved before him.

7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that put their trust in him.

The Lord is good, and a comforter in the day of tribulation, and he knows those who hope in him.

8 But with an overrunning flood he will make a full end of the place thereof, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

And in the flood that passes over, he brings to consummation the end of his place. And darkness shall pursue his adversaries.

9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make a full end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

What are you thinking up against the Lord? He will accomplish the consummation. There shall not rise up a double tribulation.

10 For though they be like tangled thorns, told be drenched as it were in their drink, they shall be devoured utterly as dry stubble.

For just as thorns entwine one another, so also, while they are feasting and drinking together, they will be consumed like stubble that is completely dry.

11 There is one gone forth out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, that counselleth wickedness.

Out of you will go forth one who thinks up evil against the Lord, dragging betrayals through his mind.

12 Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

Thus says the Lord: If they had been perfect, and many of them so, yet still they would be pruned, and it will cross through them. I have afflicted you, and I shall afflict you no more.

13 And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

And now I will shatter his rod from your back, and I will break open your bonds.

14 And the LORD hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

And the Lord will place a commandment over you; nothing more from your name will be sown. From the house of your God, I will order destroyed the graven image and the molten image. I will prepare your grave, because you are not honorable.

15 Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows: for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Behold, over the mountains, the feet of the Evangelizer and the Announcer of peace. Judah, celebrate your festivals and keep your vows. For Belial will never again pass through you; he has completely passed away.