1. The scattering one is coming up against your face. Guard the rampart. Watch the way, make your loins strong, firm up your power mightily.
2. For Jehovah has turned away the glory of Jacob, as the glory of Israel. For the plunderers have plundered them, and have destroyed their vine branches.
3. The shield of his mighty ones has become red; the mighty men are in scarlet; the chariots flame like iron torches in the day of his preparation. And the cypresses are made to quiver.
4. The chariots race madly in the streets; they shall run to and fro in the open squares. Their appearance is like torches; they dart about like lightnings.
5. He shall remember his nobles; they shall stumble in their walking; they shall make haste to its wall, and the covering shall be prepared.
6. The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be melted.
7. And she who stood firm is uncovered and caused to go away. And her slave women are moaning like the sound of doves, beating their breast.
8. But Nineveh is like a pool of water from her days; yet they are fleeing. Halt! Halt! they cry, but none looks back.
9. Seize the silver; seize the gold; for there is no end to the treasures; riches from all precious vessels.
10. She is empty and void and waste; and the heart melts, and the knees knock, and trembling is on all the loins; and all their faces collect heat.
11. Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and the lioness walked, and the lion's cub, and no one made them afraid?
12. The lion tears in pieces enough for his cubs, and strangles for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with torn prey.
13. Behold, I am against you, says Jehovah of Hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more.