Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength! | 1One who scatters is coming up against you. Man the fortifications! Watch the road! Brace yourself! Summon all your strength! |
2For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine. | 2For the LORD will restore the majesty of Jacob, yes, the majesty of Israel, though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined their vine branches. |
3The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished. | 3The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the valiant men are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariot flash like fire on the day of its battle preparations, and the spears are brandished. |
4The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. | 4The chariots dash madly through the streets; they rush around in the plazas. They look like torches; they dart back and forth like lightning. |
5He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place. | 5He gives orders to his officers; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place. |
6The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses. | 6The river gates are opened, and the palace erodes away. |
7It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts. | 7Beauty is stripped, she is carried away; her ladies-in-waiting moan like the sound of doves, and beat their breasts. |
8Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back. | 8Nineveh has been like a pool of water from her first days, but they are fleeing." Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one turns back." |
9“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. | 9Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!" There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing. |
10She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale! | 10Desolation, decimation, devastation! Hearts melt, knees tremble, loins shake, every face grows pale! |
11Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away? | 11Where is the lions' lair, or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion's cub, with nothing to frighten them away? |
12The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. | 12The lion mauled whatever its cubs needed and strangled prey for its lionesses. It filled up its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey. |
13“Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.” | 13Beware, I am against you. This is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again. |
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