Nahum, 1

1. Oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

1. Prophecy about Nineveh. Book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

2. A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, an avenger is the LORD, and angry; The LORD brings vengeance on his adversaries, and lays up wrath for his enemies;

2. Yahweh is a jealous and vengeful God, Yahweh takes vengeance, he is rich in wrath; Yahweh takes vengeance on his foes, he stores up fury for his enemies.

3. The LORD is slow to anger, yet great in power, and the LORD never leaves the guilty unpunished. In hurricane and tempest is his path, and clouds are the dust at his feet;

3. Yahweh is slow to anger but great in power, Yahweh never lets evil go unpunished. In storm and whirlwind he takes his way, the clouds are the dust stirred up by his feet.

4. He rebukes the sea and leaves it dry, and all the rivers he dries up. Withered are Bashan and Carmel, and the bloom of Lebanon fades;

4. He rebukes the sea, dries it up, and makes all the rivers run dry. . . . Bashan and Carmel wither, the greenery of the Lebanon withers too.

5. The mountains quake before him, and the hills dissolve; The earth is laid waste before him, the world and all who dwell in it.

5. The mountains tremble before him, the hills reel; the earth collapses before him, the world and all who live in it.

6. Before his wrath, who can stand firm, and who can face his blazing anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are rent asunder before him.

6. His fury -- who can withstand it? Who can endure his burning wrath? His anger pours out like fire and the rocks break apart before him.

7. The LORD is good, a refuge on the day of distress; He takes care of those who have recourse to him,

7. Yahweh is better than a fortress in time of distress; he recognises those who trust in him

8. when the flood rages; He makes an end of his opponents, and his enemies he pursues with darkness.

8. even when the flood rushes on; he will make an end once and for all of those who defy him, and pursue his foes into darkness.

9. What are you imputing to the LORD? It is he who will make an end! The enemy shall not rise a second time;

9. What are your thoughts about Yahweh? He it is who makes a final end: his adversaries will not rise up a second time;

10. As when a tangle of thornbushes is set aflame, like dry stubble, they shall be utterly consumed.

10. like a thicket of tangled brambles, like dry straw, they will be burnt up completely. To Assyria

11. From you he came who devised evil against the LORD, the scoundrel planner.

11. From you has emerged someone plotting evil against Yahweh, one of Belial's counsellors. To Judah

12. For, says the LORD, be they ever so many and so vigorous, still they shall be mown down and disappear. Though I have humbled you, I will humble you no more.

12. Yahweh says this: Unopposed and many though they be, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have made you suffer, I shall make you suffer no more,

13. Now will I break his yoke from off you, and burst asunder your bonds.

13. for now I shall break his yoke which presses hard on you and snap your chains. To the king of Nineveh

14. The LORD has commanded regarding you: no descendant shall come to bear your name; From your temple I will abolish the carved and the molten image; I will make your grave a mockery.

14. As for you, this is Yahweh's decree: You will have no heirs to your name, from the temple of your gods I shall remove carved image and cast image, and I shall devastate your tomb, for you are accursed!