1 * I am Nahum from Elkosh.* And this is the message* that I wrote down about Nineveh.*

2 The Lord God demands loyalty.

In his anger, he takes revenge

on his enemies.

3 The Lord is powerful,

yet patient;

he makes sure that the guilty

are always punished.

He can be seen in storms

and in whirlwinds;

clouds are the dust from his feet.

4 At the Lord's command,

oceans and rivers dry up.

Bashan, Mount Carmel,

and Lebanon* wither,

and their flowers fade.

5 At the sight of the Lord,

mountains and hills

tremble and melt;

the earth and its people

shudder and shake.

6 Who can stand the heat

of his furious anger?

It flashes out like fire

and shatters stones.

7 The Lord is good.

He protects those who trust him

in times of trouble.

8 But like a roaring flood,

the Lord chases his enemies

into dark places

and destroys them.*

9 So don't plot against the Lord!

He wipes out his enemies,

and they never revive.

10 They are like drunkards

overcome by wine,

or like twisted thornbushes

burning in a fire.*

11 Assyria, one of your rulers

has made evil plans

against the Lord.

12 But the Lord says, "Assyria,

no matter how strong you are,

you will be cut down!

My people Judah,

I have troubled you before,

but I won't do it again.

13 I'll snap your chains

and set you free

from the Assyrians."

14 Assyria, this is what else

the Lord says to you:

"Your name will be forgotten.

I will destroy every idol

in your temple,

and I will send you to the grave,

because you are worthless."

15 * Look toward the mountains,

people of Judah!

Here comes a messenger

with good news of peace.

Celebrate your festivals.

Keep your promises to God.

Your evil enemies are destroyed

and will never again

invade your country.