1:1 The oracle against Nineveh; 1
the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: 2
1:2 The Lord is a zealous 3 and avenging 4 God;
the Lord is avenging and very angry. 5
The Lord takes vengeance 6 against his foes;
he sustains his rage 7 against his enemies.
1:3 The Lord is slow to anger 8 but great in power; 9
the Lord will certainly not 10 allow the wicked 11 to go unpunished.
He marches out 12 in the whirlwind and the raging storm;
dark storm clouds billow like dust 13 under his feet. 14
1:4 He shouts a battle cry 15 against the sea 16 and makes it dry up; 17
he makes all the rivers 18 run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither; 19
the blossom of Lebanon withers.
1:5 The mountains tremble before him, 20
the hills convulse; 21
the earth is laid waste 22 before him,
the world and all its inhabitants 23 are laid waste. 24
1:6 No one can withstand 25 his indignation! 26
No one can resist 27 his fierce anger! 28
His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire,
boulders are broken up 29 as he approaches. 30
1:7 The Lord is good 31 –
indeed, 32 he is a fortress 33 in time of distress, 34
and he protects 35 those who seek refuge 36 in him.
1:8 But with an overwhelming flood 37
he will make a complete end of Nineveh; 38
he will drive 39 his enemies into darkness.
1:9 Whatever 40 you plot 41 against the Lord, he will completely destroy! 42
Distress 43 will not arise 44 a second time.
1:10 Surely they will be totally consumed 45
like 46 entangled thorn bushes, 47
like the drink of drunkards, 48
like very 49 dry stubble.
1:11 From you, O Nineveh, 50 one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,
a wicked military strategist. 51
1:12 This is what the Lord says: 52
“Even though 53 they are powerful 54 –
and what is more, 55 even though their army is numerous 56 –
nevertheless, 57 they will be destroyed 58 and trickle away! 59
Although I afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more. 60
1:13 And now, 61 I will break Assyria’s 62 yoke bar 63 from your neck; 64
I will tear apart the shackles 65 that are on you.” 66
1:14 The Lord has issued a decree against you: 67
“Your dynasty will come to an end. 68
I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods.
I will desecrate 69 your grave – because you are accursed!” 70
1:15 (2:1) 71 Look! A herald is running 72 on the mountains!
A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: 73
“Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah!
Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! 74
For never again 75 will the wicked 76 Assyrians 77 invade 78 you,
they 79 have been completely destroyed.” 80