1 T he oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

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

2 A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He 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 the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath 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 the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither; The blossoms of Lebanon wither.

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 M ountains quake because of Him And the hills dissolve; Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence, The world and all the inhabitants 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? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire And the rocks are broken up 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 stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge 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 overflowing flood He will make a complete end of its site, And will 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 hatever you devise against the Lord, He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice.

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

10 L ike tangled thorns, And like those who are drunken with their drink, They are consumed As stubble completely withered.

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

11 F rom you has gone forth One who plotted evil against the Lord, A wicked 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 are at full strength and likewise many, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.

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 “ So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you, And I will tear off your shackles.”

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

14 T he Lord has issued a command concerning you: “ Your name will no longer be perpetuated. I will cut off idol and image From the house of your gods. I will prepare your grave, For you are contemptible.”

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, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is cut off completely.

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.