The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.

12 Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

13 For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14 And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.(A)

The Consuming Wrath of God

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord;
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and prolongs it against his enemies.(B)
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.(C)
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry,
    and he dries up all the rivers;
Bashan and Carmel wither,
    and the bloom of Lebanon fades.
The mountains quake before him,
    and the hills melt;
the earth heaves before him,
    the world and all who live in it.(D)

Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.(E)
The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
    even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries[a]
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.(F)
Why do you plot against the Lord?
    He will make an end;
    no adversary will rise up twice.(G)
10 Like thorns they are entangled;
    like drunkards they are drunk;
    they are consumed like dry straw.(H)
11 From you one has gone out
    who plots evil against the Lord,
    one who counsels wickedness.(I)

Good News for Judah

12 Thus says the Lord:
Though they are at full strength and many,[b]
    they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.(J)
13 And now I will break off his yoke from you
    and snap the bonds that bind you.(K)

14 The Lord has commanded concerning you:
    Your name shall be perpetuated no longer;
from the house of your gods I will cut off
    the carved image and the cast image.
I will prepare your grave, for you are worthless.(L)

15 [c]Look! On the mountains the feet of one
    who brings good tidings,
    who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah;
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
    they are utterly cut off.(M)

Footnotes

  1. 1.8 Gk: Heb of her place
  2. 1.12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  3. 1.15 2.1 in Heb