Nahum, chapter 2
Nahum's Strong Words of Judgment for Nineveh
Nineveh is doomed! Nahum proclaims that Assyria's capital city Nineveh will be destroyed, because the Lord All-Powerful is against it. Nothing can stop Assyria's enemies from capturing Nineveh: not the walls of the city, nor the surrounding river system, nor Assyria's armies. When Nineveh's destruction is complete, those who have been treated cruelly by Assyria will clap for joy.
Nineveh Will Fall
ineveh, someone is coming to attack and scatter you.
Guard your fortresses! Watch the road!
Be brave! Prepare for battle!
2Judah and Israel are like trees
with branches broken by their enemies.
But the Lord is going to restore
their power and glory.
* 3Nineveh, on this day of attack,
your enemies' shields are red;
their uniforms are crimson.
4Their horses prance,
and their armored chariots dart around
like lightning or flaming torches.
5An officer gives a command.
But his soldiers stumble, as they hasten to build a shelter
to protect themselves against rocks
thrown down from the city wall.
6The river gates fly open, and panic floods the palace.
7Nineveh is disgraced. The queen is dragged off.
Her servant women mourn; they moan like doves,
and they beat their breasts in sorrow.
8Nineveh is like a pond with leaking water.
Shouts of “Stop! Don't go!” can be heard everywhere.
But everyone is leaving.
9Enemy soldiers shout, “The city is full of treasure
and all kinds of wealth.
Steal her silver! Grab her gold!”
10Nineveh is doomed! Destroyed!
Her people tremble with fear; their faces turn pale.
11What happened to this city?
They were safer there than powerful lions in a den,
with no one to disturb them.
12These are the same lions
that ferociously attacked their victims,
then dragged away the flesh to feed their young.
13The Lord All-Powerful is against you, Nineveh.
God will burn your chariots and send an army
to kill those young lions of yours.
You will never again make victims of others
or send messengers to threaten everyone on this earth.