1Nineveh, armies are coming to attack you. Guard the forts! Watch the roads! Get ready! Gather all your strength!2Assyria once took everything of value from God’s people. Its army destroyed all their vines. But the LORD will bring back the glory of Jacob’s people. He’ll make Israel glorious again.3The shields of the soldiers are red. The warriors are dressed in bright red uniforms. The metal on their chariots flashes when they are prepared for war. Their spears made out of juniper are ready to use.4The chariots race through the main streets. They rush to and fro through them. They look like flaming torches. They dart around like lightning.5Nineveh sends for its special troops. But they trip and fall on their way. They run towards the city wall. They keep their shield in front of them.6The attackers open the gates that hold back the waters of the river. And the palace falls down.7The attackers order that Nineveh’s people be taken away as prisoners. The female slaves sound like doves as they mourn. They beat their chests.8Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. ‘Stop running away!’ someone cries out. But no one turns back.9‘Steal the silver!’ the attackers shout. ‘Grab the gold!’ The supply is endless. There is plenty of wealth among all the city’s treasures.10Nineveh is destroyed, robbed and stripped! Hearts melt away in fear. Knees give way. Bodies tremble with fear. Everyone’s face turns pale.11Assyria is like a lion. Where is the lions’ den now? Where did they feed their cubs? Where did all the lions go? In their den they had nothing to fear.12The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat. He choked what he caught for his mate. He filled his home with what he had killed. He brought to his dens what he had caught.13‘Nineveh, I am against you,’ announces the LORD who rules over all. ‘I will burn your chariots with fire. Your young lions will be killed by swords. I will leave you nothing on earth to catch. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.’
Nahum 2
English Standard Version
The Destruction of Nineveh
1The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle;[1] collect all your strength. (Jer 51:12; Jer 51:20)2For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. (Ps 80:8; Isa 5:1; Isa 37:31)3The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished. (Eze 23:14)4The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning. (Na 3:2)5He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower[2] is set up. (Jer 46:12; Na 3:18)6The river gates are opened; the palace melts away; (Isa 14:31; Isa 45:1)7its mistress[3] is stripped;[4] she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts. (Isa 22:8; Isa 38:14)8Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away.[5] “Halt! Halt!” they cry, but none turns back. (Jer 46:5; Na 1:1)9Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.10Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale! (Ps 22:14; Isa 13:7; Isa 21:3; Da 5:6; Joe 2:6; Zep 2:13)11Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb? (Isa 5:29; Isa 17:2; Jer 2:15)12The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh. (Eze 19:3; Na 2:9; Na 3:1)13Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your[6] chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard. (2Ki 19:9; 2Ki 19:23; Ps 46:9; Eze 13:8; Na 3:5; Zep 2:5)