The Hebrew Prophets

An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The LORD is a jealous God and avenges. The LORD avenges and is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

He rebukes the sea, and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan languishes, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languishes.

The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.

But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.

For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.

There is one gone out of you, who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.

Thus says the LORD: “Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so they will be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.

Now will I break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”

The LORD has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, will I cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”

Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your waist! Fortify your power mightily!

For the LORD restores the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches.

The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished.

The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the broad ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings.

He summons his picked troops. They stumble on their way. They dash to its wall, and the protective shield is put in place.

The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.

It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts.

But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back.

Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture.

She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, the knees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale.