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12 All your fortresses will be like fig trees with the first-ripe figs: if they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Behold, your troops among you are women. The gates of your land are set wide open to your enemies. The fire has devoured your bars. 14 Draw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make the brick kiln strong.

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12 All your defenses are like fig trees with ripe early fruit—
    when shaken, it falls right into the devourer’s mouth.
13 Look at your people—[a]
    they are women!
Your borders stand wide open to your enemies,
    while fire consumes the bars of your gates.”

The Futility of Avoiding God’s Judgment

14 “Draw water, because a siege is coming![b]
    Strengthen your fortresses!
Make the clay good and strong!
    Mix the mortar!
        Go get your brick molds![c]

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Footnotes

  1. Nahum 3:13 I.e. Nineveh’s army
  2. Nahum 3:14 The Heb. lacks coming
  3. Nahum 3:14 I.e. this verse appears to be affirming the uselessness of constructing a defense against God’s coming judgment.