CHAPTER 1

¹A portent concerning Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

                 ²A jealous and vengeful God is the LORD;

                     vengeful, the LORD and master of wrath.

                 The LORD is avenged of His foes,

                     and bears a grudge against His enemies.

                 ³The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,

                     but the LORD surely does not acquit.

                 In tempest and whirlwind His way,

                     and a cloud is the dust at His feet.

                 ⁴He rebukes the sea and it dries up,

                     and all rivers He turns to dry land.

                 Bleak are Bashan and Carmel,

                     and Lebanon’s blossom is bleak.

                 ⁵Mountains shake before Him,

                     and the hills melt.

                 The earth lies in ruins before Him,

                     the world and all who dwell in it.

                 ⁶Before His fury who can stand,

                     and who can arise in His smoldering ire?

                 His wrath pours out like fire,

                     and the rocks are shattered by it.

                 ⁷The LORD is a good stronghold on a day of distress,

                     and He embraces those who trust Him.

                 ⁸And in his sweeping torrent He puts an end to His foes,

                     and His enemies the dark pursues.

                 ⁹What could you plot against the LORD?

                     An utter end He brings about—

                         not twice shall the foe arise.

                 ¹⁰For like tangled thorns—

                     as they swilled they were besotted—

                         they were consumed like heaps of dry straw.

                 ¹¹From you has come forth

                     one who plots evil against the LORD,

                         a worthless councillor.

                 ¹²Thus said the LORD:

                 Though they be joined in a pact and many,

                     yet shall they be done with and gone.

                         I afflicted you but will afflict you no more.

                 ¹³And now I will break his shaft from upon you

                     and snap your cords.

                 ¹⁴And the LORD has charged concerning you:

                     There shall be no seed of your name anymore.

                         I will cut off from the house of your god

                             idol and molten image.

                 I will lay out your grave,

                     for you are of no account.