1[1] An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!2The Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob like the splendour of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.3The shields of the soldiers are red; the warriors are clad in scarlet. The metal on the chariots flashes on the day they are made ready; the spears of juniper are brandished.[2]4The chariots storm through the streets, rushing back and forth through the squares. They look like flaming torches; they dart about like lightning.5Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place.6The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.7It is decreed[3] that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. Her female slaves moan like doves and beat on their breasts.8Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. ‘Stop! Stop!’ they cry, but no-one turns back.9Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures!10She is pillaged, plundered, stripped! Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale.11Where now is the lions’ den, the place where they fed their young, where the lion and lioness went, and the cubs, with nothing to fear?12The lion killed enough for his cubs and strangled the prey for his mate, filling his lairs with the kill and his dens with the prey.13‘I am against you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘I will burn up your chariots in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will leave you no prey on the earth. 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)