| 2:1 | The watchmen of Nineveh shout:* “An enemy who will scatter you* is marching out* to attack you!”* “Guard* the rampart!* Watch the road! Prepare yourselves for battle!* Muster your mighty strength!”* |
| 2:2 | For the Lord will restore* the majesty* of Jacob, as well as* the majesty of Israel, though* their enemies have plundered them* and have destroyed their fields.* |
| 2:3 | The shields of his warriors are dyed red;* the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments.* The metal fittings* of the chariots* shine like* fire* on the day of battle;* the soldiers brandish* their spears.* |
| 2:4 | The chariots* race madly* through the streets, they rush back and forth* in the broad plazas; they look* like lightning bolts,* they dash here and there* like flashes of lightning.* |
| 2:5 | The commander* orders* his officers; they stumble* as they advance;* they rush to the city wall* and they set up* the covered siege tower.* |
| 2:6 | The sluice gates* are opened; the royal palace is deluged* and dissolves.* |
| 2:7 | Nineveh* is taken into exile* and is led away;* her slave girls moan* like doves* while they beat* their breasts.* |
| 2:8 | Nineveh was like a pool* of water* throughout her days,* but now* her people* are running away;* she cries out:* “Stop! Stop!” – but no one turns back.* |
| 2:9 | Her conquerors cry out:* “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!* Their hearts faint,* their knees tremble,* each stomach churns,* each face* turns* pale!* |
| 2:11 | Where now is the den of the lions,* the feeding place* of the young lions, where* the lion, lioness,* and lion cub once prowled* and no one disturbed them?* |
| 2:12 | The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed* and strangled prey to provide food* for his lionesses; he filled* his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh. |
| 2:13 | “I am against you!” declares* the Lord who commands armies:* “I will burn your chariots* with fire;* the sword will devour your young lions;* you will no longer prey upon the land;* the voices of your messengers* will no longer be heard.” |
Nahum 2 - NET Bible [draft]
