1 B urden of Nineveh. The Book of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

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

2 A God zealous and avenging Jehovah, An avenger Jehovah, and possessing fury. An avenger Jehovah on His adversaries, And He is watching for His enemies.

The 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.

3 J ehovah slow to anger, and great in power, And Jehovah doth not entirely acquit, In a hurricane and in a tempest His way, And a cloud the dust of His feet.

The 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.

4 H e is pushing against a sea, and drieth it up, Yea, all the floods He hath made dry, Languishing Bashan and Carmel, Yea, the flower of Lebanon languishing.

He 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.

5 M ountains have shaken because of Him, And the hills have been melted; And lifted up the earth at His presence, And the world and all dwelling in it.

The 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.

6 B efore His indignation who doth stand? And who riseth up in the heat of His anger? His fury hath been poured out like fire, And the rocks have been broken by Him.

Who 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.

7 G ood Jehovah for a strong place in a day of distress. And He knoweth those trusting in Him.

The 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.

8 A nd with a flood passing over, An end He maketh of its place, And His enemies doth darkness pursue.

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

9 W hat do we devise against Jehovah? An end He is making, arise not twice doth distress.

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

10 F or while princes perplexed, And with their drink are drunken, They have been consumed as stubble fully dried.

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

11 F rom thee hath come forth a deviser of evil Against Jehovah -- a worthless counsellor.

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

12 T hus said Jehovah: Though complete, and thus many, Yet thus they have been cut off, And he hath passed away. And I afflicted thee, I afflict thee no more.

Thus 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.

13 A nd now I break his rod from off thee, And thy bands I do draw away.

For now will I break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds asunder.

14 A nd commanded concerning thee hath Jehovah, `No more of thy name doth spread abroad, From the house of thy gods I cut off graven and molten image, I appoint thy grave, for thou hast been vile.

And 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.

15 L o, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, thy festivals, complete thy vows, For add no more to pass over into thee doth the worthless, He hath been completely cut off!

Behold! 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.