尼尼微的覆滅

尼尼微啊,
攻擊者已經向你撲來。
你要進駐堡壘,
把守道路,
集中全力,
準備上陣!

雖然擄掠者曾擄掠雅各,
擄掠以色列,
毀壞他們的葡萄樹枝,
但耶和華必恢復雅各的榮耀,
恢復以色列的榮耀。

他的勇士手持紅色盾牌,
他的士兵身穿朱紅戰衣。
整裝待發之日,
戰車鐵光閃閃,
松木矛槍在空中揮舞。
戰車在街道上狂奔,
在廣場上橫衝直撞,
亮如火炬,疾似閃電。
亞述王召集將領,
他們一路跌跌撞撞,
奔上城牆,架起防禦盾牌。
河閘大開,王宮坍塌。
王后赤身被擄;
宮女捶胸悲泣,
像鴿子一樣哀鳴。
尼尼微城自古以來就像聚水的池子,
如今居民卻像洩漏的池水四散奔逃。
雖有人喊:「站住!站住!」
卻無人回頭。
搶銀子吧!搶金子吧!
城裡有無盡的財富和數不清的寶物。
10 尼尼微被洗劫一空!
被洗劫一空!
一片荒涼!
人們膽戰心驚,雙膝哆嗦,
渾身發抖,面色蒼白。

11 如今那獅子的洞穴,
那餵養壯獅的地方在哪裡呢?
從前,雄獅、母獅和幼獅曾在那裡出入,
無人驚擾。
12 雄獅為幼獅撕碎充足的食物,
為母獅掐死獵物,
洞穴裡堆滿獵物,
堆滿撕碎的肉。
13 萬軍之耶和華說:
「我要與你為敵,
燒毀你的戰車,
使刀劍吞噬你的壯獅;
我要使你無法再擄掠他國,
你使者的聲音將從此消逝。」

A city under attack

A scatterer has come up against you.
        Guard the ramparts, watch the road,
            protect your groin, save your[a] strength!
The Lord will restore the pride of Jacob,
        indeed, the pride of Israel,
            because ravagers have destroyed
            them and spoiled their branches.
The shields of his warriors are red;
        his soldiers are dressed in crimson.
The ironwork of the chariots flashes like fire
        on the day he has prepared;
            the horses quiver.
The chariots race wildly through the streets;
        they rush back and forth through the squares.
        They look like flaming torches;
                they dart like bolts of lightning.
He musters his officers;
            they stumble as they press forward.
        They hurry to the city wall,
            and the portable shield is set up.
The gates of the rivers are opened;
        the palace melts.
It is decreed:[b] She is sent into exile, carried away,
    while her female servants moan like doves, beating their breasts.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water.
        Such are its waters,[c] and others are fleeing.
            “Stop, stop!”—but no one can turn them back.
Plunder silver! Plunder gold!
        There is no end to the supplies,
            an abundance of precious objects!
10 Destruction and devastation;
        the city is laid waste!
    The heart grows faint and knees buckle;
        there is anguish in every groin;
            all the faces grow pale.

Cruel Nineveh will be destroyed

11 Where is the lions’ den, the meadow of the young lions,
        where lion, lioness, even lion cub go about with no one to terrify them?
12 The lion has torn enough prey
            for his cubs and strangled enough for his lionesses;
        he has filled his lairs with prey,
                his dens with torn flesh.
13 Look! I am against you, proclaims the Lord of heavenly forces.
    I will burn your[d] chariots in smoke;
        the sword will devour your young lions;
I will cut off your prey from the earth,
        the voice of your messengers will never again be heard!

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 2:1 Heb lacks your.
  2. Nahum 2:7 Heb uncertain
  3. Nahum 2:8 Heb uncertain
  4. Nahum 2:13 Or her

Nineveh to Fall

[a]An attacker(A) advances against you, Nineveh.
    Guard the fortress,
    watch the road,
    brace yourselves,
    marshal all your strength!

The Lord will restore(B) the splendor(C) of Jacob
    like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
    and have ruined their vines.

The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.(D)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.[b]
The chariots(E) storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble(F) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.
The river gates(G) are thrown open
    and the palace collapses.
It is decreed[c] that Nineveh
    be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan(H) like doves
    and beat on their breasts.(I)
Nineveh is like a pool
    whose water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
    but no one turns back.
Plunder the silver!
    Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
    the wealth from all its treasures!
10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
    Hearts melt,(J) knees give way,
    bodies tremble, every face grows pale.(K)

11 Where now is the lions’ den,(L)
    the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
    and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
12 The lion killed(M) enough for his cubs
    and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs(N) with the kill
    and his dens with the prey.(O)

13 “I am against(P) you,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,(Q)
    and the sword(R) will devour your young lions.
    I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
    will no longer be heard.”(S)

Footnotes

  1. Nahum 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1-13 is numbered 2:2-14.
  2. Nahum 2:3 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac ready; / the horsemen rush to and fro.
  3. Nahum 2:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.