Bible (Literal Standard Version)/Nahum

Chapter 1
Burden of Nineveh. The Scroll of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. A God zealous and avenging [is] YHWH, || An avenger [is] YHWH, and possessing fury. An avenger [is] YHWH on His adversaries, || And He is watching for His enemies. YHWH [is] slow to anger, and great in power, || And YHWH does not entirely acquit, || In a windstorm and in a storm [is] His way, || And a cloud [is] the dust of His feet. He is pushing against a sea, and dries it up, || Indeed, He has made all the floods dry, || Bashan and Carmel [are] languishing, || Indeed, the flower of Lebanon [is] languishing. Mountains have shaken because of Him, || And the hills have been melted; And the earth [is] lifted up at His presence, || And the world and all dwelling in it. Who stands before His indignation? And who rises up in the heat of His anger? His fury has been poured out like fire, || And the rocks have been broken by Him. Good [is] YHWH for a strong place in a day of distress. And He knows those trusting in Him. And with a flood passing over, || An end He makes of its place, || And darkness pursues His enemies. What do we devise against YHWH? He is making an end, distress does not arise twice. For while princes [are] perplexed, || And with their drink are drunken, || They have been consumed as stubble fully dried. From you has come forth a deviser of evil || Against YHWH—a worthless counselor. Thus said YHWH: "Though complete, and thus many, || Yet thus they have been cut off, || And he has passed away. Though I afflicted you, I afflict you no longer. And now I break his rod from off you, || And your bands I draw away." And YHWH has commanded concerning you, || "No more of your name spreads abroad, || I cut off carved and molten image from the house of your gods, || I appoint your grave, for you have been vile." Behold, on the mountains the feet of one proclaiming tidings, sounding peace! Celebrate, O Judah, your festivals, complete your vows, || For the worthless no longer pass over into you, || He has been completely cut off!

Chapter 2
A scatterer has come up to your face, || Keep the bulwark, watch the way, || Strengthen the loins, strengthen power mightily. For YHWH has turned back to the excellence of Jacob, || As [to] the excellence of Israel, || For emptiers have emptied them out, || And they have marred their branches. The shield of his mighty ones has become red, || Men of might [are in] scarlet, || With fiery torches [is] the chariot in a day of his preparation, || And the firs have been caused to tremble. In out-places the chariots shine, || They go to and fro in broad places, || Their appearances [are] like torches, || As lightnings they run. He remembers his majestic ones, || They stumble in their goings, || They hurry [to] its wall, || And the covering is prepared. Gates of the rivers have been opened, || And the palace is dissolved. And it is established—she has removed, || She has been brought up, || And her handmaids are leading as the voice of doves, || Tabering on their hearts. And Nineveh [is] as a pool of waters, || From of old it [is]—and they are fleeing! "Stand, stand"; and none is turning! Seize silver, seize gold, || And there is no end to the prepared things, || [To] the abundance of all desirable vessels. She is empty, indeed, emptiness and waste, || And the heart has melted, || And the knees have struck together, || And great pain [is] in all loins, || And the faces of all of them have gathered paleness. Where [is] the habitation of lionesses? And a feeding-place it [is] for young lions || Where a lion has walked, an old lion, || A lion's whelp, and there is none troubling. The lion is tearing parts [for] his whelps, || And is strangling for his lionesses, || And he fills his holes [with] prey, || And his habitations [with] torn flesh. "Behold, I [am] against you," || A declaration of YHWH of Hosts, || "And I have burned its chariot in smoke, || And a sword consumes your young lions, || And I have cut off your prey from the land, || And the voice of your messengers is not heard anymore!"

Chapter 3
Woe [to] the city of blood, || She is all full with lies [and] burglary, || Prey does not depart. The sound of a whip, || And the sound of the rattling of a wheel, || And of a prancing horse, and of a bounding chariot, || Of a horseman mounting. And the flame of a sword, and the lightning of a spear, || And the abundance of the wounded, || And the weight of carcasses, || Indeed, there is no end to the bodies, || They stumble over their bodies. Because of the abundance of the fornications of a harlot, || The goodness of the grace of the lady of witchcrafts, || Who is selling nations by her fornications, || And families by her witchcrafts. "Behold, I [am] against you," || A declaration of YHWH of Hosts, || "And have removed your skirts before your face, || And have showed nations your nakedness, || And kingdoms your shame, And I have cast on you abominations, || And dishonored you, and made you as a sight. And it has come to pass, || Each of your beholders flees from you, || And has said: Nineveh is spoiled, || Who bemoans for her? From where do I seek comforters for you?" Are you better than No-Ammon, || That is dwelling among brooks? Waters she has around her, || Whose bulwark [is] the sea, waters her wall. Cush her might, and Egypt, and there is no end. Put and Lubim have been for your help. Even she becomes an exile, || She has gone into captivity, || Even her sucklings are dashed to pieces || At the top of all out-places, || And for her honored ones they cast a lot, || And all her great ones have been bound in chains. Even you are drunken, you are hidden, || Even you seek a strong place, because of an enemy. All your fortresses [are] fig trees with first-fruits, || If they are shaken, || They have fallen into the mouth of the eater. Behold, your people [are] women in your midst, || To your enemies thoroughly opened || Have been the gates of your land, || Fire has consumed your bars. Waters of a siege draw for yourself, || Strengthen your fortresses, || Enter into mire, and tread on clay, || Make strong a brick-kiln. There a fire consumes you, || A sword cuts you off, || It consumes you as a cankerworm! Make yourself heavy as the cankerworm, || Make yourself heavy as the locust. Multiply your merchants above the stars of the heavens, || The cankerworm has stripped off, and flees away. Your crowned ones [are] as a locust, || And your princes as great grasshoppers, || That encamp in hedges in a day of cold, || The sun has risen, and it flees away, || And its place where they are is not known. Your friends have slumbered, king of Asshur, || Your majestic ones rest, || Your people have been scattered on the mountains, || And there is none gathering. There is no weakening of your destruction, || Your striking [is] grievous, || All hearing your fame have clapped the hand at you, || For over whom did your wickedness not pass continually?