Nineveh's enemies triumphant
1THE aggressor is coming against you. Man the ramparts, keep a watch on the road, brace yourselves, exert your strength!
2The LORD will restore the pride of Jacob and Israel alike, for pillagers have despoiled them and ravaged their vines.
3The shields of their warriors are gleaming red, their fighting men are all in scarlet; their chariots in battle line flash like fire. The squadrons of horse advance;
4they charge madly on the city, they storm through the outskirts, like torches, like the zigzag of lightning.
5The leaders display their prowess, rushing in headlong career; they dash to the city wall, and mantelets are set in position.
6The floodgates of the rivers are opened, the palace topples down;
7the train of captives goes into exile, their slave-girls are carried off, moaning like doves and beating their breasts.
8Nineveh is like a pool of water ebbing away. The cry goes up, “Stop! Stop!” but none turn back.
9Spoil is taken, spoil of silver and gold; there is no end to its store, treasure costly beyond all desire.
10Plundered, pillaged, despoiled! Courage failing and knees giving way, limbs in turmoil, and every face drained of colour!
11Where now is the lion's den, the cave in which the lion cubs lived, to which lion, lioness, and cubs made their way with none to scare them?
12The lion tore prey for its cubs, for its lionesses it broke its victim's neck; it filled its lairs with prey, its dens with flesh it had torn.
13As you see, I am against you, says the LORD of Hosts; I shall smoke out your den, and the sword will devour your young lions. I shall cut off the prey you have taken on the earth, and the voices of your envoys will no more be heard.