Nahum 1
1 The word about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
A message about Nineveh, a vision which came to Nahum from Elkosh.
2 The Lord is a God who takes care of his honour and gives punishment for wrong; the Lord gives punishment and is angry; the Lord sends punishment on those who are against him, being angry with his haters.
The Lord tolerates no rivals. The Lord is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The Lord does not fail to punish his foes; the Lord is vengeful against his enemies.
3 The Lord is slow to get angry and great in power, and will not let the sinner go without punishment: the way of the Lord is in the wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
The Lord is slow to anger, great in power. The guilty will not escape his punishment. Storm tempest is his path and cloud is the dust of his feet.
4 He says sharp words to the sea and makes it dry, drying up all the rivers: Bashan is feeble, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon is without strength.
He rebukes the sea and dries it up and makes all the streams run dry. Bashan and Carmel are languishing and the bloom of Lebanon is withered.
5 The mountains are shaking because of him, and the hills flowing away; the earth is falling to bits before him, the world and all who are in it.
The mountains tremble before him and the hills dissolve. The earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it.
6 Who may keep his place before his wrath? and who may undergo the heat of his passion? his wrath is let loose like fire and the rocks are broken open by him.
Who can stand before his wrath? Who can withstand the heat of his anger? His fierce fury pours forth like fire, he shatters rocks.
7 The Lord is good, a strong place in the day of trouble; and he has knowledge of those who take him for their safe cover.
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, a place of refuge in the day of trouble.
8 But like water overflowing he will take them away; he will put an end to those who come up against him, driving his haters into the dark.
With rushing flood an end he makes of those who rise against him, he drives his enemies into darkness.
9 What are you designing against the Lord? he will put an end to it: his haters will not come up again a second time.
Why do you plot against the Lord? He will end you. He only takes vengeance once.
10 For though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass fully dry.
Thorns, tangled and drenched, they are consumed like dry stubble.
11 One has gone out from you who is designing evil against the Lord, whose purposes are of no value.
Nineveh! From you has arisen one who plots evil against the Lord, a counsellor of wickedness.
12 This is what the Lord has said: The days of my cause against you are ended; they are cut off and past. Though I have sent trouble on you, you will no longer be troubled.
The Lord says: ‘Though they are many and strong, they will pass away and be gone. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more,
13 And now I will let his yoke be broken off you, and your chains be parted.
and now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap your chains.’
14 The Lord has given an order about you, that no more of your name are to be planted: from the house of your gods I will have the pictured and metal images cut off; I will make your last resting-place a place of shame; for you are completely evil.
The Lord has given this command concerning you, Nineveh: ‘Your name will no longer be remembered. I will destroy every idol and image in the house of your God. I will destroy even your tomb, for you are worthless.’
15 See on the mountains the feet of him who comes with good news, giving word of peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah, give effect to your oaths: for the good-for-nothing man will never again go through you; he is completely cut off.
Look! On the mountains a messenger bringing good news, announcing peace! ‘Celebrate the feasts, Judah, fulfil your vows. Never again will these enemies invade your land, they are destroyed!’
