Nahum 1

1The pronouncement^a concerning Nineveh.^b The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

GOD’S VENGEANCE

²The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce in^A wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;^c

he is furious with his enemies.^d

³The 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

⁴He 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.

⁵The mountains quake before him,

and the hills melt;

the earth trembles^BC at his presence—

the world and all who live in it.^j

⁶Who 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

⁷The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

he cares for those who take refuge^m in him.

⁸But he will completely destroy Nineveh^D

with an overwhelming flood,ⁿ

and he will chase his enemies into darkness.

⁹Whatever you^E plot against the Lord,

he will bring it to complete destruction;^o

oppression will not rise up a second time.

¹⁰For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns,^p

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.^F

¹¹One has gone out from you,^G

who plots evil against the Lord,

and is a wicked counselor.

PROMISE OF JUDAH’S DELIVERANCE

¹²This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong^H and numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and he^I will pass away.

Though I have punished you,^Aq

I will punish you no longer.^r

¹³For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

THE ASSYRIAN KING’S DEMISE

¹⁴The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.^Bs

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.

¹⁵Look 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.