Nahum 3:8-14

English Standard Version

^8 (A)Are you better than ^(B)Thebes^[a]
    that sat ^(C)by the Nile,
with water around her,
    her rampart a sea,
    and water her wall?
^9 (D)Cush was her strength;
    Egypt too, and that without limit;
    ^(E)Put and the ^(F)Libyans were her^[b] helpers.

^10 (G)Yet she became an exile;
    she went into captivity;
^(H)her infants were dashed in pieces
    at the head of every street;
for her honored men ^(I)lots were cast,
    ^(J)and all her great men were bound in chains.
^11 (K)You also will be drunken;
    you will go into hiding;
^(L)you will seek a refuge from the enemy.
¹² All your fortresses are ^(M)like fig trees
    with first-ripe figs—
if shaken they fall
    into the mouth of the eater.
¹³ Behold, your troops
    ^(N)are women in your midst.
The gates of your land
    are wide open to your enemies;
    fire has devoured your bars.

^14 (O)Draw water for the siege;
    ^(P)strengthen your forts;
go into the clay;
    tread the mortar;
    take hold of the brick mold!