Nahum 2

Proclamation of the Destruction of Nineveh

2:1 (2:2) The watchmen of Nineveh shout:1

“An enemy who will scatter you2 is marching out3 to attack you!”4

“Guard5 the rampart!6

Watch the road!

Prepare yourselves for battle!7

Muster your mighty strength!”8

2:2 For the Lord will restore9 the majesty10 of Jacob,

as well as11 the majesty of Israel,

though12 their enemies have plundered them13

and have destroyed their fields.14

Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh

2:3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red;15

the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments.16

The metal fittings17 of the chariots18 shine

like19 fire20 on the day of battle;21

the soldiers brandish22 their spears.23

2:4 The chariots24 race madly25 through the streets,

they rush back and forth26 in the broad plazas;

they look27 like lightning bolts,28

they dash here and there29 like flashes of lightning.30

2:5 The commander31 orders32 his officers;

they stumble33 as they advance;34

they rush to the city wall35

and they set up36 the covered siege tower.37

2:6 The sluice gates38 are opened;

the royal palace is deluged39 and dissolves.40

2:7 Nineveh41 is taken into exile42 and is led away;43

her slave girls moan44 like doves45 while they beat46 their breasts.47

2:8 Nineveh was like a pool48 of water49 throughout her days,50

but now51 her people52 are running away;53

she cries out:54 “Stop! Stop!” –

but no one turns back.55

2:9 Her conquerors cry out:56

“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!”

There is no end to the treasure;

riches of every kind of precious thing.

2:10 Destruction, devastation, and desolation!57

Their hearts faint,58

their knees tremble,59

each stomach churns,60 each face61 turns62 pale!63

Taunt against the Once-Mighty Lion

2:11 Where now is the den of the lions,64

the feeding place65 of the young lions,

where66 the lion, lioness,67 and lion cub once prowled68

and no one disturbed them?69

2:12 The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed70

and strangled prey to provide food71 for his lionesses;

he filled72 his lairs with prey

and his dens with torn flesh.

Battle Cry of the Divine Warrior

2:13 “I am against you!” declares73 the Lord who commands armies:74

“I will burn your chariots75 with fire;76

the sword will devour your young lions;77

you will no longer prey upon the land;78

the voices of your messengers79 will no longer be heard.”

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