נחום א

A pronouncement on Nineveh: The Book of the Prophecy of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The ETERNAL is a passionate, avenging God;
GOD is vengeful and fierce in wrath.
GOD takes vengeance on opponents,
And rages against foes.

GOD is slow to anger and of great forbearance,
But GOD does not remit all punishment.
[God] travels in whirlwind and storm,
With clouds the dust on divine feet.

[God] rebukes the sea and dries it up,
And makes all rivers fail;
Bashan and Carmel languish,
And the blossoms of Lebanon wither.

The mountains quake because of [God],
And the hills melt.
The earth heaves before [God],
The world and all that dwell therein.

Who can stand before God’s wrath?
Who can resist such fury?
God’s anger pours out like fire,
And rocks are shattered as a result.

GOD is good to [those who have hope],
And is a haven on a day of distress—
Being mindful of those seeking refuge.

And with a sweeping flood
[God] makes an end of her place,
And chases enemies into the darkness.

Why will you plot against GOD ?
Utter destruction is the outcome:
No adversary. opposes [God] twice!

For like those besotted with drink,
They are burned up like tangled thorns,
Like straw that is thoroughly dried.

The base plotter
Who designed evil against GOD
Has left you.

Thus said GOD:
“Even as those days were full and many,
Even so are they over and gone;
As surely as I afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.

And now
I will break off his yoke bar from you
And burst your cords apart.”

GOD has commanded concerning him:
No posterity shall continue your name.
I will do away with
The carved and graven images
In the temples of your gods;
I will make your grave
Accord with your worthlessness.