Yahweh’s Wrath Against Nineveh

1The [†]oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2A jealous and avenging God is [†]Yahweh;

Yahweh is avenging and [†]wrathful.

Yahweh is avenging against His adversaries,

And He keeps His anger for His enemies.

3Yahweh is slow to anger and great in power,

And Yahweh will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.

In whirlwind and storm is His way,

And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

4He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;

He dries up all the rivers.

Bashan and Carmel languish;

The blossoms of Lebanon languish.

5Mountains quake because of Him,

And the hills melt;

Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence,

The world and all the inhabitants in it.

6Who can stand before His indignation?

Who can endure the burning of His anger?

His wrath is poured out like fire,

And the rocks are torn down by Him.

7Yahweh is good,

A strong defense in the day of distress,

And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

8But with an overflowing flood

He will make a complete destruction of [†]its place

And will pursue His enemies into darkness.

9Whatever you devise against Yahweh,

He will make a complete destruction of it.

Distress will not rise up twice.

10Like tangled thorns,

And like those who are drunken with their drink,

They are consumed

As stubble fully dried up.

11From you has gone forth

One who devised evil against Yahweh,

A [†]vile counselor.

12Thus says Yahweh,

“Though they are at full strength and likewise many,

Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.

Though I have afflicted you,

I will afflict you no longer.

13So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you,

And I will break your bands apart.”

14And Yahweh has commanded concerning [†]you:

“[†]There will no longer be seed from your name.

From the house of your gods,

I will cut off graven image and molten image.

I will prepare your grave,

For you are contemptible.”

15[†]Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who proclaims good news,

Who [†]announces peace!

Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;

Pay your vows.

For never again will the [†]vile one pass through you;

He is cut off completely.