Nahum 2

Revised Standard Version

² (For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob
    as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have stripped them
    and ruined their branches.)

³ The shield of his mighty men is red,
    his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots flash like flame^[a]
    when mustered in array;
    the chargers^[b] prance.
⁴ The chariots rage in the streets,
    they rush to and fro through the squares;
they gleam like torches,
    they dart like lightning.
⁵ The officers are summoned,
    they stumble as they go,
they hasten to the wall,
    the mantelet is set up.
⁶ The river gates are opened,
    the palace is in dismay;
⁷ its mistress^[c] is stripped, she is carried off,
    her maidens lamenting,
moaning like doves,
    and beating their breasts.
⁸ Nin′eveh is like a pool
    whose waters^[d] run away.
“Halt! Halt!” they cry;
    but none turns back.
⁹ Plunder the silver,
    plunder the gold!
There is no end of treasure,
    or wealth of every precious thing.

¹⁰ Desolate! Desolation and ruin!
    Hearts faint and knees tremble,
anguish is on all loins,
    all faces grow pale!
¹¹ Where is the lions’ den,
    the cave^[e] of the young lions,
where the lion brought his prey,
    where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
¹² The lion tore enough for his whelps
    and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he filled his caves with prey
    and his dens with torn flesh.