1 The pronouncement  * concerning Nineveh.  * The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;

the Lord takes vengeance

and is fierce in  *  wrath.

The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;  *

he is furious with his enemies.  *

3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

the Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished.  *

His path is in the whirlwind and storm,  *

and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.  *

4 He rebukes the sea and dries it up,

and he makes all the rivers run dry.  *

Bashan and Carmel wither;  *

even the flower of Lebanon withers.

5 The mountains quake before him,

and the hills melt;

the earth trembles  *,* at his presence —

the world and all who live in it.  *

6 Who can withstand his indignation?

Who can endure his burning anger?  *

His wrath is poured out like fire;  *

even rocks are shattered before him.

7 The Lord is good,

a stronghold in a day of distress;

he cares for those who take refuge  * in him.

8 But he will completely destroy Nineveh  *

with an overwhelming flood,  *

and he will chase his enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever you  * plot against the  Lord,

he will bring it to complete destruction;  *

oppression will not rise up a second time.

10 For they will be consumed

like entangled thorns,  *

like the drink of a drunkard

and like straw that is fully dry.  *

11 One has gone out from you,  *

who plots evil against the Lord,

and is a wicked counselor.

12 This is what the Lord says:

Though they are strong  * and numerous,

they will still be mowed down,

and he  * will pass away.

Though I have punished you,  *,*

I will punish you no longer.  *

13 For I will now break off his yoke from you

and tear off your shackles.

14 The Lord has issued an order concerning you:

There will be no offspring

to carry on your name.  *,*

I will eliminate the carved idol and cast image

from the house of your gods;  *

I will prepare your grave,

for you are contemptible.

15 Look to the mountains —

the feet of the herald,  *

who proclaims peace.

Celebrate your festivals, Judah;

fulfill your vows.

For the wicked one will never again

march through you;

he will be entirely wiped out.