Nahum 2
1 En Adspreder drager op imod dig, vogt Befæstningen, spejd Vejen, styrk Lænderne, anspænd Kraften stærkt!
Nineveh! The destroyer has come up against you; mount guard upon the rampart; watch the road; brace yourselves; strengthen your might to the utmost.
2 Thi Herren genopretter Jakobs Herlighed ligesom Israels Herlighed; thi Røvere have udplyndret dem og ødelagt deres Vinkviste.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Hans vældiges Skjold er rødligt, Heltene ere klædte i Skarlagen, Vognene funkle af Staal paa den Dag, han ruster, og Spydene svinges.
The shields of his warriors are dyed red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet, his chariots gleam like fire on the day he prepares for battle spears are shaken.
4 Paa Gaderne fare Vognene som rasende, de ile af Sted paa de aabne Pladser, deres Udseende er som Blus, de løbe som Lynet.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Han kommer sine ypperlige Mænd i Hu, de snuble under deres Gang, de haste hen til dens Mur; men Stormtaget er oprejst.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Portene ud imod Floderne, ere opladte, og Paladset er modløst.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Men det er beskikket: Hun blottes, hun drages op, og hendes Piger sukke, som Duer sukke, de slaa sig paa deres Bryst.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Og Ninive var ligesom en vandrig Fiskedam, fra de Dage af da den blev til; men de fly: „Staar! staar!‟ men ingen ser sig tilbage.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. ‘Stand firm! Stand firm!’ someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Røver Sølv! røver Guld! der er dog ingen Ende paa Forraadet, en Herlighed af alle Haande kostelige Ting.
‘Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.’
10 Øde og Ørk og Ødelæggelse og et forsagt Hjerte, og Vaklen i Knæerne, og Smerte i alle Lænder! og alles Ansigter have skiftet Farve.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Hvor er nu Løvernes Bolig og denne, de unge Løvers Vildbane, hvor Løven, Løvinden gik, Løveungen, og der var ingen, som forfærdede dem.
Where now is the den of lions? Where now the lair of their young? Where the lion used to withdraw, with his cubs, with none to disturb them?
12 En Løve, der røvede, hvad der var nok til dens Unger, og kvalte til sine Løvinder og fyldte sine Huler med Rov og sine Boliger med det røvede.
The lion tore enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses. He filled his caves with the kill, he filled his lairs with fresh meat.
13 Se, jeg kommer imod dig, siger den Herre Zebaoth, og jeg vil brænde dine Vogne, saa de gaa op i Røg, og Sværd skal fortære dine unge Løver; og jeg vil udrydde dit Rov af Jorden, og dine Sendebuds Røst skal ikke høres ydermere.
‘But see, I am against you,’ the Lord of hosts declares, ‘I will burn your chariots in smoke and fire. The sword will devour your young lions. You will never again prey on the land. No more will your messengers be heard.’
