Nahum 1

¹An oracle concerning Nineveh . The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh .

²The Lord is a jealous and avenging God ; the Lord is avenging and wrathful ; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies .

³The Lord is slow to anger and 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 .

⁴He rebukes the sea and makes it dry ; he dries up all the rivers ; Bashan and Carmel wither ; the bloom of Lebanon withers .

⁵The mountains quake before him; the hills melt ; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.

⁶Who can stand before his indignation ? Who can endure the heat of his anger ? His wrath is poured out like fire , and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

⁷The Lord is good , a stronghold in the day of trouble ; he knows those who take refuge in him.

⁸But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries , and will pursue his enemies into darkness .

⁹What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time .

¹⁰For they are like entangled thorns , like drunkards as they drink ; they are consumed like stubble fully dried .

¹¹From you came one who plotted evil against the Lord, a worthless counselor .

¹²Thus says the Lord, Though they are at full strength and many , they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more .

¹³And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart .

¹⁴The Lord has given commandment about you: No more shall your name be perpetuated ; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave , for you are vile .

¹⁵Behold , upon the mountains , the feet of him who brings good news , who publishes peace ! Keep your feasts , O Judah ; fulfill your vows , for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off .