Online Bible

Yahweh’s Destruction of Nineveh

¹The one who ^ascatters has come up against ²you.Guard the fortification, watch the road;Strengthen your loins, ³instill your power with exceeding courage.2 For Yahweh will restore the ^amajesty of Jacob^bLike the majesty of Israel,Even though those who empty them have emptied them to destructionAnd ^cruined their vine branches.

3 The shields of ¹his mighty men are colored red,The valiant men are dressed in ^a²scarlet,The chariots are enveloped in ³flashing steel⁴When he is set up to march,And the cypress ^bspears are brandished.4 The ^achariots race madly in the streets;They rush wildly in the ¹squares;Their appearance is like torches;They dash to and fro like lightning flashes.5 He remembers his ^amighty ones;They ^bstumble in their march;They hurry to her wall,And the ¹mantelet is set up.6 The gates of the rivers are opened,And the palace is melted away.7 So it stands fixed:She is exiled, she is carried away,And her maidservants are ^amoaning like the sound of doves,^bBeating on their hearts.

8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,Now they are fleeing;“Stand! Stand!”But ^ano one ¹turns back.9 Plunder the silver!Plunder the ^agold!And there is no limit to the treasure—¹Wealth from every kind of desirable object.10 She is ^aemptied! Yes, she is emptied out and eviscerated!^bHearts are melting and knees knocking!Also anguish is in all their loins,And all their ^cfaces ¹turn pale!11 Where is the den of the lionsAnd the feeding place of the ^ayoung lions,Where the lion, lioness, and lion’s cub prowled,With nothing to make them tremble?12 The lion tore enough for its cubsAnd strangled enough for its lionessesAnd filled its lairs with torn up preyAnd its dens with torn up flesh.

13 “Behold, ^aI am against you,” declares Yahweh of hosts. “And I will ^bburn up her chariots in smoke, and a sword will devour your young lions; and I will ^ccut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard.”

The Overthrow of Nineveh

¹The one who ^ascatters has come up against you Nineveh.Man the fortress and ramparts, watch the road;²Strengthen your back prepare for battle, summon all your strength.2 For the LORD will restore the ^asplendor and majesty of Jacob^bLike the splendor of ancient and united Israel,Even though destroyers have destroyed themAnd ^cruined their vine branches. Is 10:12

3 The shields of his soldiers of ¹Media and Babylon are colored red;The warriors are dressed in ^ascarlet.The chariots blaze with fire of flashing steelWhen he is prepared to march,And the cypress ^bspears are brandished for battle.4 The ^achariots race madly in the streets;They rush wildly in the broad plazas.Their appearance is like torches;They rush in various directions like forked lightning.5 ¹He remembers and summons his ^anobles;They ^bstumble in their march terrified because of the attack.They hurry to the city wall,And the ²mantelet is prepared and firmly set up.6 The gates of the rivers surrounding Nineveh are openedAnd the palace of sun-dried brick is dissolved by the torrents.7 It is decreed:Nineveh is stripped, and she is carried away,And her handmaids are ^amoaning like the sound of doves,^bBeating on their breasts in sorrow.

8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,Now her inhabitants are fleeing;“Stop! Stop!” a few cry,But ^ano one turns back.9 Plunder the silver!Plunder the ^agold!For there is no end to the treasure—Wealth from every precious object.10 ^aShe is emptied! She is desolate and waste!^bHearts melting in fear and knees knocking!Anguish is in the whole body,And the ^cfaces of all grow pale! Is 13:7, 811 Where is the den of the lions (Assyria)And the feeding place of the ^ayoung lions,Where the lion, lioness, and lion’s cub prowledWith nothing to fear?12 The lion of Assyria tore enough for his cubs (Assyrian citizens) ,Killed enough prey for his lionesses,And filled his lairs with preyAnd his dens with torn flesh.

13 “Behold, ^aI am against you Nineveh,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and I will ^bburn your chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will ^ccut off your prey from the land, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”