Nahum 2

1He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.footnote a

2For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.footnote b

3The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.footnote cfootnote d

4The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.footnote e

5He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.footnote ffootnote g

6The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.footnote h

7And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.footnote ifootnote j

8But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.footnote kfootnote l

9Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.footnote mfootnote n

10She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

11Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid?

12The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

13Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

The Overthrow of Nineveh

1One who scatters advancesagainst you, O Nineveh.Guard the fortress!Watch the road!Brace yourselves!footnote aSummon all your strength!

2For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacoblike the splendor of Israel,though destroyers have laid them wasteand ruined the branches of their vine.

3The shields of his mighty men are red;the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet.The fittings of the chariots flash like fireon the day they are prepared,and the spears of cypresshave been brandished.footnote b 4The chariots dash through the streets;they rush around the plazas,appearing like torches,darting about like lightning. 5He summons his nobles;they stumble as they advance.They race to its wall;the protective shield is set in place. 6The river gates are thrown openand the palace collapses.

7It is decreed that the city be exiledand carried away;her maidservants moan like doves,and beat upon their breasts. 8Nineveh has been like a pool of waterthroughout her days,but now it is draining away.“Stop! Stop!” they cry,but no one turns back. 9“Plunder the silver!Plunder the gold!”There is no end to the treasure,an abundance of every precious thing. 10She is emptied!Yes, she is desolate and laid waste!Hearts melt, knees knock,bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!

11Where is the lions’ lairor the feeding ground of the young lions,where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs,with nothing to frighten them away? 12The lion mauled enough for its cubsand strangled prey for the lioness.It filled its dens with the kill,and its lairs with mauled prey.

13“Behold, I am against you,”declares the LORD of Hosts.“I will reduce your chariots to cinders,and the sword will devour your young lions.I will cut off your prey from the earth,and the voices of your messengerswill no longer be heard.”