Nahum 2:1-8
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 2
1 The one who scatters has come up against you. Keep watch over the fortress, watch the road; Bind up your waist, summon all your strength. 2For the Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob Like the splendor of Israel, Even though destroyers have laid waste to them And ruined their vines. 3The shields of his warriors are dyed red, The warriors are dressed in scarlet, The chariots are fitted with flashing steel When he is prepared to march, And the juniper spears are brandished. 4The chariots drive wildly in the streets, They rush around in the public squares; Their appearance is like torches, They drive back and forth like lightning flashes. 5He remembers his officers; They stumble in their advance, They hurry to her wall, And the mantelet is set up. 6The gates of the rivers are opened And the palace sways back and forth. 7It is set: She is stripped, she is led away, And her slave women are sobbing like the sound of doves, Beating their breasts. 8Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Yet they are fleeing; 'Stop, stop,' But no one turns back.King James Version
2For the Lord hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
3The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
Christian Standard Bible
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 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 madly through the streets; they rush around in the plazas. They look like torches; they dart back and forth like lightning.
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 opened, and the palace erodes away.
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 from her first days, but they are fleeing. "Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one turns back.
New Living Translation
3Shields flash red in the sunlight! See the scarlet uniforms of the valiant troops! Watch as their glittering chariots move into position, with a forest of spears waving above them.
4The chariots race recklessly along the streets and rush wildly through the squares. They flash like firelight and move as swiftly as lightning.
5The king shouts to his officers; they stumble in their haste, rushing to the walls to set up their defenses.
6The river gates have been torn open! The palace is about to collapse!
7Nineveh’s exile has been decreed, and all the servant girls mourn its capture. They moan like doves and beat their breasts in sorrow.
8Nineveh is like a leaking water reservoir! The people are slipping away. 'Stop, stop!' someone shouts, but no one even looks back.
English Standard Version
Chapter 2
1 The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength. 2For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches. 3The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished. 4 The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning. 5He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up. 6 The river gates are opened; the palace melts away; 7its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts. 8 Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry, but none turns back.New International Version
2The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.
3The shields of the soldiers are red; the warriors are clad in scarlet. The metal on the chariots flashes on the day they are made ready; the spears of juniper are brandished.
4The chariots storm through the streets, rushing back and forth through the squares. They look like flaming torches; they dart about like lightning.
5Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place.
6The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. Her female slaves moan like doves and beat on their breasts.
8Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. "Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one turns back.
New King James Version
