Nahum 2
American Standard Version
2 He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily. 2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches. 3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots [a]flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the [b]cypress spears are brandished. 4 The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings. 5 He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared. 6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. 7 [c]And it is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids [d]moan as with the voice of doves, beating upon their [e]breasts.
8 But Nineveh hath been [f]from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, they cry; but none [g]looketh back. 9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold; for there is no end of the store, the [h]glory of all goodly furniture. 10 She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale. 11 Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion and the lioness walked, the lion’s whelp, and none made them afraid? 12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin. 13 Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
Nahum 2
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Overthrow of Nineveh
2 [a]The one who (A)scatters has come up against [b]you.
Man the fortress, watch the road;
[c]Strengthen your back, [d]summon all your strength.
2 For the Lord will restore the (B)splendor of Jacob
(C)Like the splendor of Israel,
Even though devastators have devastated them
And (D)destroyed their vine branches.
3 The shields of [e]his mighty men are colored red,
The warriors are dressed in (E)scarlet,
The chariots are enveloped in [f]flashing steel
[g]When he is prepared to march,
And the cypress (F)spears are brandished.
4 The (G)chariots race madly in the streets,
They rush wildly in the [h]squares,
Their appearance is like torches,
They dash to and fro like lightning flashes.
5 He remembers his (H)nobles;
They (I)stumble in their march,
They hurry to her wall,
And the [i]mantelet is set up.
6 The gates of the rivers are opened
And the palace is dissolved.
7 It is fixed:
She is stripped, she is carried away,
And her handmaids are (J)moaning like the sound of doves,
(K)Beating on their [j]breasts.
8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,
Now they are fleeing;
“Stop, stop,”
But (L)no one turns back.
9 Plunder the silver!
Plunder the (M)gold!
For there is no limit to the treasure—
Wealth from every kind of desirable object.
10 She is (N)emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste!
(O)Hearts are melting and knees knocking!
Also anguish is in [k]the whole body
And all their (P)faces are grown pale!
11 Where is the den of the lions
And the feeding place of the (Q)young lions,
Where the lion, lioness and lion’s cub prowled,
With nothing to disturb them?
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs,
[l]Killed enough for his lionesses,
And filled his lairs with prey
And his dens with torn flesh.
13 “Behold, (R)I am against you,” declares the Lord of hosts. “I will (S)burn up her chariots in smoke, a sword will devour your young lions; I will (T)cut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard.”
Footnotes
- Nahum 2:1 Ch 2:2 in Heb
- Nahum 2:1 Lit your face
- Nahum 2:1 Lit Make strong your loins
- Nahum 2:1 Lit strengthen power greatly
- Nahum 2:3 I.e. those attacking Nineveh
- Nahum 2:3 Lit fire of steel
- Nahum 2:3 Lit On the day of his preparation
- Nahum 2:4 Lit broad places
- Nahum 2:5 Lit covering used in a siege
- Nahum 2:7 Lit hearts
- Nahum 2:10 Lit all the loin
- Nahum 2:12 Lit Strangled
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
