Nahum 3:12-19

English Standard Version

¹²All your fortresses are ^(A)like fig trees
    with first-ripe figs—
if shaken they fall
    into the mouth of the eater.
¹³Behold, your troops
    ^(B)are women in your midst.
The gates of your land
    are wide open to your enemies;
    fire has devoured your bars.

¹⁴^(C)Draw water for the siege;
    ^(D)strengthen your forts;
go into the clay;
    tread the mortar;
    take hold of the brick mold!
¹⁵There will the fire devour you;
    the sword will cut you off.
    It will ^(E)devour you ^(F)like the locust.
Multiply yourselves ^(G)like the locust;
    multiply ^(H)like the grasshopper!
¹⁶You increased ^(I)your merchants
    more than the stars of the heavens.
    ^(J)The locust spreads its wings and flies away.

¹⁷Your ^(K)princes^[a] are ^(L)like grasshoppers,
    ^(M)your scribes^[b] like clouds of locusts
settling on the fences
    in a day of cold—
when the sun rises, they fly away;
    no one knows where they are.

¹⁸Your shepherds ^(N)are asleep,
    O king of Assyria;
    ^(O)your nobles slumber.
Your people ^(P)are scattered on the mountains
    with none to gather them.
¹⁹There is no easing your hurt;
    ^(Q)your wound is grievous.
All who hear the news about you
    ^(R)clap their hands over you.
For ^(S)upon whom has not come
    your unceasing evil?