Nahum 1

1 The pronouncementa concerning Nineveh.b The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

GOD’S VENGEANCE

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce inA wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;c

he is furious with his enemies.d

3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.e

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,f

and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.g

4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up,

and he makes all the rivers run dry.h

Bashan and Carmel wither;i

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

5 The mountains quake before him,

and the hills melt;

the earth tremblesB,C at his presence—

the world and all who live in it.j

6 Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his burning anger?k

His wrath is poured out like fire;l

even rocks are shattered before him.

DESTRUCTION OF NINEVEH

7 The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

he cares for those who take refugem in him.

8 But he will completely destroy NinevehD

with an overwhelming flood,n

and he will chase his enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever youE plot against the Lord,

he will bring it to complete destruction;o

oppression will not rise up a second time.

10 For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns,p

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.F

11 One has gone out from you,G

who plots evil against the Lord,

and is a wicked counselor.

PROMISE OF JUDAH’S DELIVERANCE

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strongH and numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and heI will pass away.

Though I have punished you,A,q

I will punish you no longer.r

13 For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

THE ASSYRIAN KING’S DEMISE

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.B,s

I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image

from the house of your gods;t

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

15 Look to the mountains—

the feet of the herald,u

who proclaims peace.

Celebrate your festivals, Judah;

fulfill your vows.

For the wicked one will never again

march through you;

he will be entirely wiped out.