[1] The shatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the
road; gird your loins; collect all your strength. [2] (For the LORD is
restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers
have stripped them and ruined their branches.) [3] The shield of his mighty
men is red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots flash like
flame when mustered in array; the chargers prance. [4] The chariots rage in
the streets, they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like
torches, they dart like lightning. [5] The officers are summoned, they
stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall, the mantelet is set up. [6]
The river gates are opened, the palace is in dismay; [7] its mistress is
stripped, she is carried off, her maidens lamenting, moaning like doves,
and beating their breasts. [8] Nin'eveh is like a pool whose waters run
away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry; but none turns back. [9] Plunder the silver,
plunder the gold! There is no end of treasure, or wealth of every precious
thing. [10] Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts faint and knees tremble,
anguish is on all loins, all faces grow pale! [11] Where is the lions' den,
the cave of the young lions, where the lion brought his prey, where his
cubs were, with none to disturb? [12] The lion tore enough for his whelps
and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his
dens with torn flesh. [13] Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of
hosts, and I will burn your chariots in 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 no more be heard.