1 ¶ One who dashes to pieces has come up against you: man the fortifications, watch the road, rally your strength, and summon all your might.

2 For the LORD has cut off the pride of Jacob, like the pride of Israel: for the plunderers have plundered them, and spoiled their vine branches.

3 The shields of his mighty men have been made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the steel on his chariots flashes when they are made ready, and the cypress spears are swinging.

4 The chariots careen madly in the streets, they jostle against one another in the squares: they flash like torches, they dart around like lightning.

5 He summons his bravest men: they stumble over themselves in their advancing; they hasten to her wall, and the defense is prepared.

6 The river gates are opened, and the palace erodes away.

7 And the garrisoned city is stripped, she is carried away, and her maids are moaning like the sound of doves, taboring upon their breasts.

8 Of old Nineveh is like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stop, stop, they cry; but no one will turn back.

9 Seize booty of silver, seize booty of gold: for there is no limit to the store and the abundance of all desirable things.

10 She is empty, plundered, and in ruins: hearts are throbbing, knees knock together, there is much anguish in their loins, and all of their faces turn pale.

11 ¶ Where is the lion’s den, and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, with the lion’s cub, and no one made them afraid?

12 The lion tore in pieces whatever its cubs needed, and broke the neck of prey for his lionesses, filling his den with prey, and his lair with ripped carcasses.

13 Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions: and I will stop you from hunting prey in the earth, and the voice of your messengers will not be heard again.