⁵ Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble^(A) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.

¹² The nations will hear of your shame;
    your cries will fill the earth.
One warrior will stumble over another;
    both will fall^(A) down together.”

¹⁸ King of Assyria, your shepherds^[a] slumber;^(A)
    your nobles lie down to rest.^(B)
Your people are scattered^(C) on the mountains
    with no one to gather them.

²⁷ “Lift up a banner^(A) in the land!
    Blow the trumpet among the nations!
Prepare the nations for battle against her;
    summon against her these kingdoms:^(B)
    Ararat,^(C) Minni and Ashkenaz.^(D)
Appoint a commander against her;
    send up horses like a swarm of locusts.^(E)
28 Prepare the nations for battle against her—
    the kings of the Medes,^(F)
their governors and all their officials,
    and all the countries they rule.^(G)

²⁹ “Summon archers against Babylon,
    all those who draw the bow.^(A)
Encamp all around her;
    let no one escape.^(B)
Repay^(C) her for her deeds;^(D)
    do to her as she has done.
For she has defied^(E) the Lord,
    the Holy One^(F) of Israel.

⁵ They set the tables,
    they spread the rugs,
    they eat, they drink!^(A)
Get up, you officers,
    oil the shields!^(B)

²⁷ Not one of them grows tired^(A) or stumbles,
    not one slumbers or sleeps;
not a belt^(B) is loosened at the waist,^(C)
    not a sandal strap is broken.^(D)