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 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