1 Godspraak oor Ninev,. Die boek van die gesig van Nahum, die lkosiet.

2 'n Jaloerse God en 'n wreker is die HERE, 'n wreker is die HERE, en vol grimmigheid; 'n wreker is die HERE vir sy teëstanders, en Hy behou die toorn teen sy vyande.

3 Die HERE is lankmoedig, maar groot van krag; en nooit laat die HERE ongestraf bly nie. Sy weg is in warrelwind en in storm, en wolke is die stof van sy voete.

4 Hy dreig die see en maak dit droog en laat al die riviere opdroog; Basan en Karmel kwyn weg, en die groenigheid van die L¡banon verwelk.

5 Die berge bewe voor Hom, en die heuwels smelt weg; en die aarde rys op voor sy aangesig, ja, die wêreld en almal wat daarin woon.

6 Wie sal standhou voor sy grimmigheid? En wie sal bestand wees teen die gloed van sy toorn? Sy gramskap word uitgegiet soos vuur, en die rotse word stukkend geruk voor Hom.

7 Die HERE is goed, 'n toevlug in die dag van benoudheid, en Hy ken die wat by Hom skuil.

8 Maar met 'n oorstromende vloed maak Hy 'n einde aan die plek van die stad, en sy vyande vervolg Hy die duisternis in.

9 Wat wil julle beraam teen die HERE? Hy maak daar 'n einde aan; die benoudheid sal nie twee maal opkom nie.

10 Want al is hulle saamgevleg soos dorings, en soos hulle drank so deur en deur nat -- hulle sal soos droë stoppels volkome verteer word.

11 Van jou, o stad, het een uitgegaan wat kwaad teen die HERE beraam het, wat verderflike planne gemaak het.

12 So sê die HERE: Al is hulle ook in volle krag en so groot in getal, tog sal hulle net so afgemaai word en vergaan. Ek het jou verneder, Ek sal jou nie meer verneder nie;

13 maar nou sal Ek sy juk van jou af verbreek en jou stroppe stukkend ruk.

14 Maar die HERE sal dit oor jou verorden: Van jou naam sal daar nie meer gesaai word nie; Ek sal uit die huis van jou god uitroei die gesnede en die gegote beelde; Ek sal vir jou 'n graf maak, want jy is te lig bevind.

15 Kyk, op die berge die voete van hom wat die goeie boodskap bring, wat vrede laat hoor: Vier jou feesdae, o Juda, betaal jou geloftes! Want die snoodaard sal nooit weer deur jou gebied trek nie; hy is heeltemal uitgeroei!

1 The word about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 The Lord is a God who takes care of his honour and gives punishment for wrong; the Lord gives punishment and is angry; the Lord sends punishment on those who are against him, being angry with his haters.

3 The Lord is slow to get angry and great in power, and will not let the sinner go without punishment: the way of the Lord is in the wind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4 He says sharp words to the sea and makes it dry, drying up all the rivers: Bashan is feeble, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon is without strength.

5 The mountains are shaking because of him, and the hills flowing away; the earth is falling to bits before him, the world and all who are in it.

6 Who may keep his place before his wrath? and who may undergo the heat of his passion? his wrath is let loose like fire and the rocks are broken open by him.

7 The Lord is good, a strong place in the day of trouble; and he has knowledge of those who take him for their safe cover.

8 But like water overflowing he will take them away; he will put an end to those who come up against him, driving his haters into the dark.

9 What are you designing against the Lord? he will put an end to it: his haters will not come up again a second time.

10 For though they are like twisted thorns, and are overcome as with drink, they will come to destruction like stems of grass fully dry.

11 One has gone out from you who is designing evil against the Lord, whose purposes are of no value.

12 This is what the Lord has said: The days of my cause against you are ended; they are cut off and past. Though I have sent trouble on you, you will no longer be troubled.

13 And now I will let his yoke be broken off you, and your chains be parted.

14 The Lord has given an order about you, that no more of your name are to be planted: from the house of your gods I will have the pictured and metal images cut off; I will make your last resting-place a place of shame; for you are completely evil.