1 B urden 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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.

Mountains shake because of Him, and the hills melt. The earth is laid waste before Him, the world and everyone 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 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 G ood Jehovah for a strong place in a day of distress. And He knoweth those trusting 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 A nd with a flood passing over, An end He maketh of its place, And His enemies doth darkness pursue.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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!

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.