Nahum Chapter 1

³ He doesn’t get mad quick,

            but he does exert his power;

      he doesn’t let the guilty go free.

He displays his power in storms and tornadoes;

      clouds are dust beneath his feet.

Nah 1:1-3

⁴ At his command seas and rivers dry up,

      Bashan and Carmel wither,

      Lebanon’s blossoms wilt.

⁵ In his presence, mountains quake and hills melt;

      earth trembles and its people perish.                               

Nah 1:4-5

⁶ Who can withstand his indignation?

      Who can endure his furious anger?

He pours out wrath like fire

      and cracks rocks in pieces.

⁷ The LORD is good, a fortress in times of trouble;

      he knows who takes refuge in him.

⁸ But with an overwhelming flood,

      he brings his opponents to a complete end

      and chases his enemies into the dark.

Nah 1:6-8

⁹ Whatever you’re plotting against the LORD

            he’ll put an end to;

      he doesn’t need to take revenge twice.

¹⁰ His enemies, like tangled thornbushes and staggering people,

      he’ll completely burn up like stubble.

¹¹ Who is this counselor of yours

                  that plots against the LORD with bad advice?

¹² This is what the LORD says,

      “Though strong and numerous,

            the Assyrians will perish and disappear.

      Though I’ve let them punish you before,

            I won’t let them do it again.

         ¹³I’ll break their yoke off your neck

            and tear their shackles off your feet.”                      

Nah 1:9-13

¹⁴ The LORD has issued an edict about you, Assyria:

            “No offspring will carry on your name;

      I’ll remove idol and image

            from the temples of your gods.

      I’ll get your grave ready

            because you’re contemptible.”

Nah 1:14

¹⁵ Over the mountains, a messenger is coming with good news,

      someone that’s announcing peace!

Celebrate your festivals, Judah; fulfill your vows;

      those wicked invaders will never attack you again.