Naum 1

1 The burden of Nineve: the book of the vision of Naum the Elkesite.

A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges with wrath; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he cuts off his enemies.

The LORD is a jealous God and avenges. The LORD avenges and is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.

3 The Lord is long-suffering, and his power is great, and the Lord will not hold any guiltless: his way is in destruction and in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He threatens the sea, and dries it up, and exhausts all the rivers: the land of Basan, and Carmel are brought low, and the flourishing [trees] of Libanus have come to nought.

He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel languish. The flower of Lebanon languishes.

5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills are shaken, and the earth recoils at his presence, [even] the world, and all that dwell in it.

The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.

6 Who shall stand before his anger? and who shall withstand in the anger of his wrath? his wrath brings to nought kingdoms, and the rocks are burst asunder by him.

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.

7 The Lord is good to them that wait on him in the day of affliction; and he knows them that reverence him.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.

8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end: darkness shall pursue those that rise up against [him] and his enemies.

But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

9 What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make a complete end: he will not take vengeance by affliction twice at the same time.

What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.

10 For [the enemy] shall be laid bare even to the foundation, and shall be devoured as twisted yew, and as stubble fully dry.

For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.

11 Out of thee shall proceed a device against the Lord, counselling evil things hostile [to him].

One has gone out of you who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.

12 Thus saith the Lord who rules over many waters, Even thus shall they be sent away, and the report of thee shall not be heard any more.

The LORD says: “Though they are in full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

13 And now will I break his rod from off thee, and will burst [thy] bonds.

Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”

14 And the Lord shall give a command concerning thee; there shall no more of thy name be scattered: I will utterly destroy the graven [images] out of the house of thy god, and the molten [images]: I will make thy grave; for [they are] swift.

The LORD has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, I will cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings glad tidings, and publishes peace! O Juda, keep thy feasts, pay thy vows: for they shall no more pass through thee to [thy] decay.

Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.