NAHUM

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

2  God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges with wrath; the Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He cuts off His enemies.

3  The Lord is long suffering, and His power is great, and the Lord will not hold any guiltless: His way is in destruction and in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

4  He threatens the sea, and dries it up, and exhausts all the rivers: the land of Bashan and Carmel are brought low, and the flourishing trees of Lebanon have come to nought.

5  The mountains quake at Him, and the hills are shaken, and the earth recoils at His presence, even the world, and all that dwell in it.

6  Who shall stand before His anger? And who shall withstand in the anger of His wrath? His wrath brings to nought kingdoms, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.

7  The Lord is good to them that wait on Him in the day of affliction; and He knows them that reverence Him.

8  But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end: darkness shall pursue those that rise up against Him and His enemies.

9  What do you devise against the Lord? He will make a complete end: He will not take vengeance by affliction twice at the same time.

10  For the enemy shall be laid bare even to the foundation, and shall be devoured as twisted yew, and as stubble fully dry.

11  Out of you shall proceed a device against the Lord, counseling evil things hostile to Him.

12  Thus says the Lord who rules over many waters: Even thus shall they be sent away, and the report of you shall not be heard any more.

13  And now will I break off his rod from you, and will burst your bonds.

14  And the Lord shall give a command concerning you; your name shall be fruitful no longer: I will utterly destroy the graven images out of the house of your god, and the molten images: I will make your grave; for they are swift.

15  Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that brings glad tidings, and publishes peace! O Judah, keep your feasts, pay your vows: for they shall no more pass through you to your decay.