Nahum 1

1The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

1This is a message concerning Nineveh. It is the book of the vision shown to Nahum the Elkoshite.

2Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

2The LORD is a jealous God who takes revenge. The LORD takes revenge and is full of anger. The LORD takes vengeance on those who oppose him and stores up wrath for his enemies.

3Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

3The LORD is slow to get angry and is very powerful. He will certainly not let the guilty go unpunished. The LORD moves through the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are like the dust under his feet.

4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

4He commands the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. The fields of Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flowers of Lebanon wilt away.

5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

5The mountains shake before him, and the hills melt. The earth trembles at his presence—the whole world and everyone living in it.

6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.

6Who can stand before his intense anger? Who can endure his burning rage? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are shattered by him.

7Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him.

7The LORD is good. He is a safe place to hide when trouble comes. He cares for those who trust in him.

8But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

8But with an overwhelming flood, he will completely destroy Nineveh. He will chase his enemies into the darkness.

9What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.

9What are you plotting against the LORD? He will bring a total end to it; trouble will not happen a second time.

10For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.

10They are tangled like thorns and drunk on their own wine; they will be completely burned up like dry straw.

11There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.

11From you, Nineveh, has come someone who plots evil against the LORD and gives wicked advice.

12Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

12This is what the LORD says: 'Even though they are strong and many, they will be cut down and disappear. Although I have punished you, my people, I will punish you no more.'

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

13Now I will break his yoke from your neck and tear off the chains that bind you.

14And Jehovah hath given 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.

14The LORD has given this command about you, Nineveh: 'You will have no descendants to carry on your name. I will destroy the carved idols and metal images in the temples of your gods. I will prepare your grave because you are worthless.'

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

15Look! On the mountains are the feet of a messenger bringing good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your festivals, people of Judah, and fulfill your promises to God. The wicked will never invade you again; they are completely destroyed.