Nahum 1:1–8

The 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.