The Burden of Nineveh

(Jonah 1:1-3)

1The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2The LORD is a jealous God and avengeth; the LORD avengeth and is full of wrath; the LORD taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

3The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

4He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

5The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

6Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.

7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that put their trust in him.

8But with an overrunning flood he will make a full end of the place thereof, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

9What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make a full end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

10For though they be like tangled thorns, told be drenched as it were in their drink, they shall be devoured utterly as dry stubble.

11There is one gone forth out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, that counselleth wickedness.

12Thus saith the LORD: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

13And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

14And the LORD hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

15Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows: for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.