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The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.
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The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.
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He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
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The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.
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Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.
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The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
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This is what the Lord says: “Although they have allies and are numerous, they will be destroyed and pass away. Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more.
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The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: “You will have no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the images and idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave, for you are vile.”
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Nineveh to Fall
An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!
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The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.
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Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place.
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It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. Her female slaves moan like doves and beat on their breasts.
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Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
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Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures!
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She is pillaged, plundered, stripped! Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
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Where now is the lions’ den, the place where they fed their young, where the lion and lioness went, and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
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all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.
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All who see you will flee from you and say, ‘Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for her?’ Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”
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Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were among her allies.
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Yet she was taken captive and went into exile. Her infants were dashed to pieces at every street corner. Lots were cast for her nobles, and all her great men were put in chains.
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All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.
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Look at your troops— they are all weaklings. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has consumed the bars of your gates.
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Nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?
