Nahum 2
1 He has come up [one who] scatters on face your guard [the] fortification watch [the] road strengthen [the] loins make strong strength exceedingly.
The one who scatters has come to attack you! Guard the fortresses! Watch the roads! Get yourselves ready! Call every soldier out!
2 For he will restore Yahweh [the] majesty of Jacob like [the] majesty of Israel for they have laid waste to them [those who] lay waste and branches their they have destroyed.
(For the Lord will restore the splendor of the people of Jacob as he will restore the splendor of Israel, for invaders have plundered them, and destroyed their land.)
3 [the] shield of Warriors his [is] dyed red men of strength [are] clothed in scarlet [are] in fire of iron the chariotry on [the] day prepares he and the cypresses they have been made to quiver.
The shields of his chief soldiers are red; the warriors wear scarlet. His chariots flash like fire in the sunlight as he prepares for battle. Spears with their wooden shafts are held up and shaken.
4 In the streets they drive madly the chariotry they rush around! in the open places appearance their [are] like torches like lightning flashes they run around.
Chariots race madly through the streets, rushing back and forth across the town squares. Bright as torches, they dash like lightning flashes.
5 He remembers nobles his they stumble (on journey their *Q(K)*) they hurry wall its and it is prepared the cover.
He shouts orders to his officers. They stumble as they rush to attack the wall. The battering ram is set up.
6 [the] gates of The rivers they have been opened and the palace it has melted away.
The river gates are opened; the palace washes away.
7 And it has been fixed it was uncovered it was taken away and maidservants its [are] moaning like [the] sound of doves [they are] beating on hearts their.
“Queen” Nineveh is stripped, and led away into exile, with her servant girls mourning like doves, and beating their breasts.
8 And Nineveh [was] like a pool of water from [the] days of it and they [are] fleeing stop stop and there not [is one who] turns back.
Nineveh is a leaky pool—its population is like water running away. “Stop! Stop” people shout, but nobody turns back.
9 Plunder silver plunder gold and there not [is] an end to the supply abundance from every article of preciousness.
Loot the silver! Loot the gold! There's an endless supply—an abundance of everything you could ever want.
10 Emptiness and emptiness and devastation and heart [is] melting and [are] tottering knees and anguish [is] in all loins and [the] faces of all of them they have gathered a glow.
Deserted, destroyed, devastated! Hearts faint, knees tremble, stomachs ache. Everyone's faces turn pale.
11 Where? [is the] dwelling place of lions and [is] pasture it for young lions where it walked lion lioness there cub of lion and there not [was one who] disturbed [them].
Where now is the lion's den? Where is the place where the young lions used to feed? Where is the lion, and the lioness, and the lion cub that were afraid of no one?
12 [the] lion [was] tearing For [the] sufficiency of cubs its and [was] strangling for lionesses its and it filled prey hole its and dens its torn flesh.
The lion tears apart meat for his cubs, and strangles prey for his lionesses. He fills his den with prey, his lair with carcasses.
13 Here I [am] against you [the] utterance of Yahweh of hosts and I will burn in smoke chariotry its and young lions your it will consume [the] sword and I will cut off from [the] earth prey your and not it will be heard again [the] voice of messengers your.
Watch out! For I am against you, declares the Lord Almighty. I will set fire to your chariots and they will go up in smoke. Your strong young men will be killed by the sword. I will stop you plundering other peoples. The demands of your ambassadors will no longer be heard.
