1 This is a pronouncement concerning Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

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

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and reserves wrath for his enemies.

God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; he will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.

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

5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.

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

6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are shattered before him.

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in him.

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

8 But with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his enemies into darkness.

But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9 Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will bring it to an end; trouble will not come a second time.

What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10 Though they are entangled in thorns and drunk from their wine, they will be consumed like dry stubble.

For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

11 From you, Nineveh, has come one who plots evil against the Lord and devises wicked plans.

There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

12 This is what the Lord says: 'Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more.'

Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

13 Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.

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

14 The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: 'Your name will no longer be perpetuated. Out of the house of your gods I will destroy the carved image and the cast idol. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.'

And the LORD hath given a 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.