Read the Bible

¹ The oracle against Nineveh;
the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:

² The Lord is a zealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and very angry.
The Lord takes vengeance against his foes;
he sustains his rage against his enemies.
³ The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished.

He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm;
dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.
⁴ He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up;
he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
the blossom of Lebanon withers.
⁵ The mountains tremble before him,
the hills convulse;
the earth is laid waste before him,
the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste.
⁶ No one can withstand his indignation!
No one can resist his fierce anger!
His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire,
boulders are broken up as he approaches.
⁷ The Lord is good—
indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress,
and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
⁸ But with an overwhelming flood
he will make a complete end of Nineveh;
he will drive his enemies into darkness.

⁹ Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy!
Distress will not arise a second time.
¹⁰ Surely they will be totally consumed
like entangled thorn bushes,
like the drink of drunkards,
like very dry stubble.
¹¹ From you, O Nineveh, one has marched forth who plots evil against the Lord,
a wicked military strategist.

¹² This is what the Lord says:
"Even though they are powerful—
and what is more, even though their army is numerous—
nevertheless, they will be destroyed and trickle away!
Although I afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more.
¹³ And now, I will break Assyria's yoke bar from your neck;
I will tear apart the shackles that are on you."

¹⁴ The Lord has issued a decree against you:
"Your dynasty will come to an end.
I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods.
I will desecrate your grave—because you are accursed!"

^15 (2:1) Look! A herald is running on the mountains!
A messenger is proclaiming deliverance:
"Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah!
Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God!
For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you,
they have been completely destroyed."