New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 1

1 Oracle[a] concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

God’s Terrifying Appearance

2 [b]A jealous and avenging God[c] is the Lord,
    an avenger is the Lord, full of wrath;
The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries,
    and rages against his enemies;
3 The Lord is slow to anger, yet great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
In stormwind[d] and tempest he comes,
    and clouds are the dust at his feet;
4 He roars at the sea and leaves it dry,
    and all the rivers he dries up.
Laid low are Bashan and Carmel,
    and the bloom of Lebanon withers;[e]
5 The mountains quake before him,
    and the hills dissolve;
The earth is laid waste before him,
    the world and all who dwell in it.
6 [f]Before his wrath, who can stand firm,
    and who can face his blazing anger?
His fury is poured out like fire,
    and boulders break apart before him.
7 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    a refuge on the day of distress,
Taking care of those who look to him for protection,
8     when the flood rages;
He makes an end of his opponents,
    and pursues his enemies into darkness.

Nineveh’s Judgment and Judah’s Restoration

9 What do you plot against the Lord,
    the one about to bring total destruction?
    No opponent rises a second time!
10 [g]Like a thorny thicket, they are tangled,
    and like drunkards, they are drunk;
    like dry stubble, they are utterly consumed.
11 From you has come
    one plotting evil against the Lord,
    one giving sinister counsel.[h]
12 Thus says the Lord:
    though fully intact and so numerous,
    they[i] shall be mown down and disappear.
Though I have humbled you,
    I will humble you no more.
13 Now I will break his yoke off of you,
    and tear off your bonds.

14 The Lord has commanded regarding you:[j]
    no descendant will again bear your name;
From the house of your gods I will abolish
    the carved and the molten image;
    I will make your grave a dung heap.