1 An oracle for Nineveh, a writing of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.
God’s Anger With Nineveh
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord avenges and is furious.
The Lord takes vengeance on His enemies,
and He reserves it for His adversaries;
3 the Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will in no way acquit the guilty.
In gale winds and a storm is His way,
and clouds are the dust of His feet.
4 He rebukes and dries up the sea,
and He makes waterless all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither up,
and the sprout of Lebanon wastes away.
5 The mountains quake before Him,
and the hills melt;
the land rises up before Him,
the earth and everything that dwells on it.
6 Who can stand before His anger?
Who will rise up before His burning wrath?
His heat is poured out like fire,
and the rocks are broken up before Him.
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of distress;
and He knows those who take refuge in Him.
8 As a flood running forth,
He will bring to an end the distress,
and He will pursue His adversaries into darkness.
9 Why do you all scheme against the Lord?
He will bring it to an end.
It will not rise up a second time.
10 Because they are like interwoven thorns
and as drunkards imbibing,
they are consumed like completely dry stubble.
11 Out of you, O Nineveh, comes one,
a worthless counselor,
who devises evil against the Lord.
12 So the Lord says:
“Even though they are full and many,
they will be cut down, and it will pass away.
Even though I have afflicted you,
I will no longer afflict you, O Judah;
13 now I will break apart his yoke from over you,
and I will tear apart your bonds.”
14 The Lord has given a command concerning you:
“No longer will your name go forth.
I will cut off the carved image and metal image
from the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
for you are despised.”
15 Look, on the mountains
come the feet of him who brings good news,
who proclaims peace!
Make your feasts, O Judah,
and complete your vows.
For the wicked one will never again pass through your midst;
he is completely cut down.