Nahum 2

1Look, on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news, who announces peace. Celebrate your festivals, Judah; fulfill your vows, for the worthless one will never again pass through you; he is completely cut off.

2A scatterer has come up against your face. Guard the fortress; watch the road; strengthen your loins; muster your strength greatly.

3For Yahweh is restoring the majesty of Jacob like the majesty of Israel, though destroyers have destroyed them and ruined their vine branches.

4The shield of his mighty men is red; the men of valor are clothed in scarlet. The chariots flash with the fire of steel on the day of his preparation, and the cypress spears are brandished.

5In the streets the chariots race wildly; they rattle through the squares. Their appearance is like torches; like lightning they dart about.

6He summons his nobles; they stumble in their march. They hurry to her wall, and the siege shelter is set up.

7The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melts away.

8It is fixed: she is stripped bare, she is carried away; and her servant girls are led off, moaning like the sound of doves, beating on their hearts.

9Nineveh has been like a pool of water from her earliest days, yet they are fleeing. “Stop! Stop!”—but no one turns back.

10Plunder silver! Plunder gold! There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.

11Devastation, desolation, and destruction! Hearts melt, knees give way, anguish is in every waist, and all their faces grow pale.

12Where is the lions’ den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness walked, where the lion’s cub was, with none to make them afraid?

13The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his dens with prey and his lairs with torn flesh.

14Behold, I am against you, declares Yahweh of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke; the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.