The Lord is angry with the people of Nineveh
1The Lord talked to Nahum and showed him what He wanted to do to the city of Nineveh. Nahum was from the town of Elkosh. The Lord said He wanted to punish Nineveh.
2The Lord is a God who can become angry
and punish his enemies.
He punishes the people who are against Him.
He stays angry with his enemies.
3The Lord is patient and very strong,
but if someone is guilty,
then God will punish him.
When the Lord comes,
there will be a strong wind and a storm.
The clouds are like dust under his feet.
4When He rebukes the sea,
the sea becomes dry.
He makes all the rivers dry.
The plants in Bashan
and on Mount Carmel become dry.
All the flowers
on Mount Lebanon become dry and die.
5The mountains shake before the Lord,
and the hills melt.
The earth and everyone on earth will be afraid
when the Lord comes.
6Who can stand before God
when He is angry? No one can.
When God is angry, it is like a burning fire.
The rocks break into pieces before Him.
I will now free my people
7The Lord is good.
He helps people when they suffer
and He protects those who trust in Him.
8But the Lord will punish the people of Nineveh.
It will be like a flood of water
that overflows them.
He will chase his enemies into dark places.
9The Lord will stop the plans
that people make against Him.
His enemies will never come back.
10They will be like the thorns of a bush,
like people who have had too much to drink,
and like men who become drunk.
They will burn like chaff.
11Someone came from Nineveh,
and he made plans against the Lord.
He wanted the Israelites to suffer.
12The Lord says:
‘There are many soldiers in Nineveh,
and they are strong.
But they will all die in war.
My people, I have made you suffer,
but I will not make you suffer again.
13I will free you now.
Nineveh, the people of Assyria,
will not rule over you anymore.’
You will have peace
14Nineveh, the Lord has told
your enemies to destroy you.
No one will ever remember your name.
The Lord says:
‘I will break down the images
in the temples of your idols.
I will dig a grave for you,
because people hate you.
15Look, there is someone coming
over the mountains who brings a message.
He brings good news.
He says there will be peace.
He says: “People of Judah,
celebrate your feasts.
Give to the Lord what you have promised.
Those bad people who have oppressed you
will not come into your land again.
They are dead.” ’
