Nahum 3:1-11

New International Version

Woe to Nineveh

3 Woe to the city of blood,^(A)
    full of lies,^(B)
full of plunder,
    never without victims!
²The crack of whips,
    the clatter of wheels,
galloping horses
    and jolting chariots!
³Charging cavalry,
    flashing swords
    and glittering spears!
Many casualties,
    piles of dead,
bodies without number,
    people stumbling over the corpses^(C)—
⁴all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,
    alluring, the mistress of sorceries,^(D)
who enslaved nations by her prostitution^(E)
    and peoples by her witchcraft.

⁵“I am against^(F) you,” declares the Lord Almighty.
    “I will lift your skirts^(G) over your face.
I will show the nations your nakedness^(H)
    and the kingdoms your shame.
⁶I will pelt you with filth,^(I)
    I will treat you with contempt^(J)
    and make you a spectacle.^(K)
⁷All who see you will flee^(L) from you and say,
    ‘Nineveh^(M) is in ruins^(N)—who will mourn for her?’^(O)
    Where can I find anyone to comfort^(P) you?”

⁸Are you better than^(Q) Thebes,^(R)
    situated on the Nile,^(S)
    with water around her?
The river was her defense,
    the waters her wall.
⁹Cush^[a]^(T) and Egypt were her boundless strength;
    Put^(U) and Libya^(V) were among her allies.
¹⁰Yet she was taken captive^(W)
    and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed^(X) to pieces
    at every street corner.
Lots^(Y) were cast for her nobles,
    and all her great men were put in chains.^(Z)
¹¹You too will become drunk;^(AA)
    you will go into hiding^(AB)
    and seek refuge from the enemy.