Nahúm 2
New American Bible ›1The hammer comes up against you; guard the rampart, Keep watch on the road, gird your loins, marshall all your strength!
2The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, Though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils.
3The shields of his warriors are crimsoned, the soldiers colored in scarlet; Fiery steel are the chariots on the day of his mustering. The horses are frenzied;
4the chariots dash madly through the streets And wheel in the squares, looking like firebrands, flashing like lightning bolts.
5His picked troops are called, ranks break at their charge; To the wall they rush, the mantelet is set up.
6The river gates are opened, the palace shudders,
7Its mistress is led forth captive, and her handmaids, under guard, Moaning like doves, beating their breasts.
8Nineveh is like a pool whose waters escape; Stop! Stop! but none turns back.
9Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end to the treasure, to their wealth in precious things of every kind!
10Emptiness, desolation, waste; melting hearts and trembling knees, Writhing in every frame, every face blanched!
11Where is the lions' cave, the young lions' den, Where the lion went in and out, and the cub, with no one to disturb them?
12The lion snatched enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses; He filled his dens with prey, and his caves with plunder.
13I come against you, says the LORD of hosts; I will consume in smoke your chariots, and the sword shall devour your young lions; Your preying on the land I will bring to an end, the cry of your lionesses shall be heard no more.