2One who scatters has come up against you;*

guard the rampart,

Watch the road, brace yourselves,

marshal all your strength!

3* The Lord will restore the vine of Jacob,

the honor of Israel,

Because ravagers have ravaged them

and ruined their branches.

4The shields of his warriors are crimsoned,

the soldiers clad in scarlet;

Like fire are the trappings of the chariots

on the day he prepares for war;

the cavalry is agitated!

5The chariots dash madly through the streets

and wheel in the squares,

Looking like torches,

bolting like lightning.

6His picked troops are called,

ranks break at their charge;

To the wall they rush,

their screen* is set up.

7The river gates* are opened,

the palace is washed away.

8The mistress is led forth captive,

and her maidservants* led away,

Moaning like doves,

beating their breasts.

9Nineveh is like a pool

whose waters escape;

“Stop! Stop!”

but none turns back.b

10“Plunder the silver, plunder the gold!”

There is no end to the treasure,

to wealth in every precious thing!

11Emptiness, desolation, waste;

melting hearts and trembling knees,

Churning in every stomach,

every face turning pale!c

12Where is the lionesses’ den,

the young lions’ cave,

Where the lion* went in and out,

and the cub, with no one to disturb them?d

13The lion tore apart enough for his cubs,

and strangled for his lionesses;

He filled his lairs with prey,

and his dens with torn flesh.

14I now come against you—

oracle of the Lord of hosts—

I will consume your chariots in smoke,

and the sword will devour your young lions;

Your preying on the land I will bring to an end,

the cry of your lionesses will be heard no more.