The Overthrow of Nineveh

1The one scattering has come up

before your face;

guard the fortress,

watch over the road;

strengthen your loins,

strengthen your power greatly!

2For YHWH will restore the majesty of Jacob,

like the majesty of Israel,

for those emptying have emptied them

and have ruined their branches.

3The shields of his mighty men are red;

the men of valor are clothed in scarlet;

with fire of burning steel the chariots come

on the day of his preparing,

and the cypresses quiver.†

4Through the streets the chariots dash;

they rush around in the squares;

their appearance is like torches,

like the lightning they run!

5He summons his nobles,

they stumble in their walk;

they hurry to her wall,

and the siege-cover is prepared.

6The gates of the rivers are opened,

and the palace is dissolved.

7And it is established:

She shall be ncovered and brought up,

and her maidservants will be moaning as the voice of doves,

beating on their breasts.

8And Nineveh was like a pool of water,

from the days of her,

and they flee:

“Stand, stand,”

and no one is turning back.

9“Plunder the silver,

plunder the gold!”

And there is no end to the provision—

the worth of every precious article.

10Emptiness,

an empty place and laid waste!

The heart melts, and the knees shake,

and there is anguish in all loins,

and the faces of all of them are gathered to paleness!

11Where is the dwelling of the lions,

and the feeding place that was unto the young lions—

where there walked the lion and lioness,

and the cub of the lion,

and nothing made them afraid?

12The lion was tearing enough for his cubs,

and strangling for his lionesses;

and he filled his caves with prey,

and his dens with flesh.

13“Behold, I am against you,”

a declaration of YHWH of Hosts,

“And I will burn in smoke your chariots,

and the sword will devour your young lions;

and I will cut off your prey from the earth,

and will be heard no more

the voice of your messengers!”