1 T he burden or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

This is the word about Nineveh, the book of the special dream of Nahum the Elkoshite. God’s Anger against Nineveh

2 T he Lord is a jealous God and avenging; the Lord avenges and He is full of wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries and reserves wrath for His enemies.

The Lord is a jealous God and One Who punishes. The Lord punishes and is angry. The Lord punishes those who fight against Him. He is angry with those who hate Him.

3 T he Lord is slow to anger and great in power and will by no means clear the guilty. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power. The Lord will be sure to punish the guilty. The way He punishes is in the strong-wind and storm. The clouds are the dust under His feet.

4 H e rebukes and threatens the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Mount Carmel wither, and the blossom of Lebanon fades.

He speaks sharp words to the sea and makes it dry. He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel dry up. The flowers of Lebanon dry up.

5 T he mountains tremble and quake before Him and the hills melt away, and the earth is upheaved at His presence—yes, the world and all that dwell in it.

Mountains shake because of Him, and the hills melt. The earth is laid waste before Him, the world and everyone in it.

6 W ho can stand before His indignation? And who can stand up and endure the fierceness of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by Him.

Who can stand before His anger? Who can live through the burning of His anger? His anger is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken up by Him.

7 T he Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.

The Lord is good, a safe place in times of trouble. And He knows those who come to Him to be safe.

8 B ut with an overrunning flood He will make a full end of site and pursue His enemies into darkness.

But He will put an end to Nineveh by making a flood flow over it. And He will drive those who hate Him into darkness.

9 W hat do you devise and plot against the Lord? He will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Whatever plan you make against the Lord, He will destroy it. Trouble will not come a second time.

10 F or are as bundles of thorn branches, and even while drowned in their drunken they shall be consumed like stubble fully dry.

They are like thorns that tie themselves together, like those who are drunk with strong drink. They are destroyed like dry grass.

11 T here is one gone forth out of you who plots evil against the Lord, a villainous counselor.

From you one has come who makes sinful plans against the Lord, one who talks about sinful things to do.

12 T hus says the Lord: Though they be in full strength and likewise many, even so shall be cut down when shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will not cause you to be afflicted any more.

The Lord says, “Even if they are strong and many, they will be destroyed and pass away. I have brought trouble to you, O Judah, but I will not bring you trouble any more.

13 F or now will I break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds asunder.

Now I will break his load off your shoulders and tear off your chains.”

14 A nd the Lord has given a commandment concerning you, that no more of your name shall be born nor shall your name be perpetuated. Out of the house of your gods I will cut off the graven and molten images; I will make your tomb, for you are vile and despised.

The Lord has said this about you: “You will have no one to carry on your name. I will destroy the false gods and objects of worship from the house of your gods. I will make your grave ready, for you are very sinful.”

15 B ehold! upon the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; perform your vows. For the wicked counselor shall no more come against you or pass through your land; he is utterly cut off.

See, on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news and speaks of peace! Keep your special suppers, O Judah. Keep your promises. For the sinful one will never come against you again. He is destroyed.