Nahum 1

God Is Awesome

1The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2A jealous and avenging God is the LORD;
The LORD is avenging and wrathful.
The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries,
And He reserves wrath for His enemies. 3The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.
In whirlwind and storm is His way,
And clouds are the dust beneath His feet. 4He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;
He dries up all the rivers.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
The blossoms of Lebanon wither. 5Mountains quake because of Him
And the hills dissolve;
Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence,
The world and all the inhabitants in it. 6Who can stand before His indignation?
Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire
And the rocks are broken up by Him. 7The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him. 8But with an overflowing flood
He will make a complete end of its site,
And will pursue His enemies into darkness. 9Whatever you devise against the LORD,
He will make a complete end of it.
Distress will not rise up twice. 10Like tangled thorns,
And like those who are drunken with their drink,
They are consumed
As stubble completely withered. 11From you has gone forth
One who plotted evil against the LORD,
A wicked counselor.

12Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many,
Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no longer. 13“So now, I will break his yoke bar from upon you,
And I will tear off your shackles.” 14The LORD has issued a command concerning you:
“Your name will no longer be perpetuated.
I will cut off idol and image
From the house of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,
For you are contemptible.” 15Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace!
Celebrate your feasts, O Judah;
Pay your vows.
For never again will the wicked one pass through you;
He is cut off completely.