1 H e that dasheth in pieces is come up against thy face: keep the fortress, watch the way, make loins strong, fortify power mightily.

2 F or Jehovah hath brought again the glory of Jacob, as the glory of Israel; for the wasters have wasted them, and marred their vine-branches.

3 T he shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots with the sheen of steel, in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished.

4 T he chariots rush madly in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightnings.

5 H e bethinketh him of his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the shelter is prepared.

6 T he gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melteth away.

7 A nd it is decreed: she shall be uncovered, she shall be led away, and her maids shall moan as with the voice of doves, drumming upon their breasts.

8 N ineveh hath been like a pool of water, since the day she existed, yet they flee away. … Stand! Stand! But none looketh back.

9 P lunder the silver, plunder the gold; for there is no end of the splendid store of all precious vessels.

10 S he is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and writhing pain is in all loins, and all their faces grow pale.

11 W here is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion, the lioness, the lion's whelp walked, and none made them afraid?

12 T he lion tore in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

13 B ehold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts: and I will burn her chariots into smoke; and the sword shall devour thy young lions, and I will cut off thy prey from the earth; and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.