³ The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished. ⁴ The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the wide ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings. ⁵ He summons his picked troops. They stumble on their way. They dash to its wall, and the protective shield is put in place. ⁶ The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. ⁷ It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her servants moan as with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts. ⁸ But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one looks back. ⁹ Take the plunder of silver. Take the plunder of gold, for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture. ¹⁰ She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, the knees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale.