The Burden of Nineveh

(Jonah 1:1-3)

1The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum, the Elcesite.

2The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger, and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is angry with his enemies.

3The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and acquit the guilty. The Lord's ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

4He rebuketh the sea and drieth it up: and bringeth all the rivers to be a desert. Basan languisheth and Carmel: and the flower of Libanus fadeth away.

5The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that dwell therein.

6Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out like fire: and the rocks are melted by him.

7The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and knoweth them that hope in him.

8But with a flood that passeth by, he will make an utter end of the place thereof: and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

9What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end: there shall not rise a double affliction.

10For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry.

11Out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the Lord, contriving treachery in his mind.

12Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted thee, and I will afflict thee no more.

13And now I will break in pieces his rod with which he struck thy back, and I will burst thy bonds asunder.

14And the Lord will give a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name shall be sown: I will destroy the graven and molten thing out of the house of thy God, I will make it thy grave, for thou art disgraced.

15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: O Juda, keep thy festivals, and pay thy vows: for Belial shall no more pass through thee again, he is utterly cut off.