The Overthrow of Nineveh
2
1The one who Ascatters has come up against 2you.
Man the fortress, watch the road;
3Strengthen your back, 4summon all your strength.
For the Lord will restore the Asplendor of Jacob
BLike the splendor of Israel,
Even though devastators have devastated them
And Cdestroyed their vine branches.
The shields of 1his mighty men are colored red,
The warriors are dressed in Ascarlet,
The chariots are enveloped in 2flashing steel
3When he is prepared to march,
And the cypress Bspears are brandished.
The Achariots race madly in the streets,
They rush wildly in the 1squares,
Their appearance is like torches,
They dash to and fro like lightning flashes.
He remembers his Anobles;
They Bstumble in their march,
They hurry to her wall,
And the 1mantelet is set up.
The gates of the rivers are opened
And the palace is dissolved.
It is fixed:
She is stripped, she is carried away,
And her handmaids are Amoaning like the sound of doves,
BBeating on their 1breasts.
Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,
Now they are fleeing;
Stop, stop,”
But Ano one turns back.
Plunder the silver!
Plunder the Agold!
For there is no limit to the treasure
Wealth from every kind of desirable object.
10 She is Aemptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste!
BHearts are melting and knees knocking!
Also anguish is in 1the whole body
And all their Cfaces are grown pale!
11  Where is the den of the lions
And the feeding place of the Ayoung lions,
Where the lion, lioness and lion’s cub prowled,
With nothing to disturb them?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs,
1Killed enough for his lionesses,
And filled his lairs with prey
And his dens with torn flesh.
13 Behold, AI am against you,” declares the Lord of hosts. “I will Bburn up her chariots in smoke, a sword will devour your young lions; I will Ccut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard.”
1 2:1 Ch 2:2 in Heb A 2:1 Jer 51:20-23 2 2:1 Lit your face 3 2:1 Lit Make strong your loins 4 2:1 Lit strengthen power greatly A 2:2 Is 60:15 B 2:2 Ezek 37:21-23 C 2:2 Ps 80:12, 13 1 2:3 I.e. those attacking Nineveh A 2:3 Ezek 23:14, 15 2 2:3 Lit fire of steel 3 2:3 Lit On the day of his preparation B 2:3 Job 39:23 A 2:4 Is 66:15; Jer 4:13; Ezek 26:10; Nah 3:2, 3 1 2:4 Lit broad places A 2:5 Nah 3:18 B 2:5 Jer 46:12 1 2:5 Lit covering used in a siege A 2:7 Is 38:14; 59:11 B 2:7 Is 32:12 1 2:7 Lit hearts A 2:8 Jer 46:5; 47:3 A 2:9 Rev 18:12, 16 A 2:10 Is 24:1; 34:10-13; Nah 2:2 B 2:10 Ps 22:14; Is 13:7, 8; Ezek 21:7 1 2:10 Lit all the loin C 2:10 Joel 2:6 A 2:11 Is 5:29 1 2:12 Lit Strangled A 2:13 Jer 21:13; Ezek 5:8; Nah 3:5 B 2:13 Josh 11:6, 9; Ps 46:9 C 2:13 Is 49:24, 25; Nah 3:1