Nahum 2
International Children’s Bible
Nineveh Will Be Defeated
2 The destroyer[a] is coming to attack you, Nineveh.
Guard the defenses.
Watch the road.
Get ready.
Gather all your strength!
2 Destroyers have destroyed God’s people
and ruined their vines.
But the Lord will make the people of Jacob
and the people of Israel great again.
3 The shields of the soldiers are red.
The army is dressed in red.
The metal on the chariots flashes
when they are ready to attack.
Their horses are excited.
4 The chariots race through the streets.
They rush back and forth through the city squares.
They look like torches.
They run like lightning.
5 He[b] calls his officers.
But they fall down on the way.
They hurry to the city wall.
The shield is put into place.
6 The river gates are thrown open.
And the palace is destroyed.
7 It has been announced that the people of Nineveh
will be captured and carried away.
The slave girls moan like doves.
They beat their breasts because they are sad.
8 Nineveh is like a pool.
And its water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” the people yell.
But no one turns back.
9 Take the silver!
Take the gold!
There is no end to the treasure.
There is wealth of every kind.
10 Nineveh is robbed, ruined and destroyed.
The people lose their courage. Their knees knock with fear.
Stomachs ache. And everyone’s face grows pale from fright.
11 Where is the lions’[c] den?
Where do they feed their young?
Where did the lion, lioness and cubs go?
Where were they not afraid?
12 The lion killed enough for his cubs.
He killed it for his mate.
He filled his cave with the animals he caught.
He filled his den with what he had killed.
13 “I am against you, Nineveh,”
says the Lord of heaven’s armies.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke.
And I will kill your young lions with a sword.
I will stop you from hunting down others on the earth.
Your messengers’ voices
will no longer be heard.”
Nahum 2
Common English Bible
A city under attack
2 A scatterer has come up against you.
Guard the ramparts, watch the road,
protect your groin, save your[a] strength!
2 The Lord will restore the pride of Jacob,
indeed, the pride of Israel,
because ravagers have destroyed
them and spoiled their branches.
3 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.
4 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.
5 He musters his officers;
they stumble as they press forward.
They hurry to the city wall,
and the portable shield is set up.
6 The gates of the rivers are opened;
the palace melts.
7 It is decreed:[b] She is sent into exile, carried away,
while her female servants moan like doves, beating their breasts.
8 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.
9 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
- Nahum 2:1 Heb lacks your.
- Nahum 2:7 Heb uncertain
- Nahum 2:8 Heb uncertain
- Nahum 2:13 Or her
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible