Nineveh’s Downfall
1
2
3
Charging horseman,
flashing sword,
shining spear;
heaps of slain,
mounds of corpses,
dead bodies without end(D)—
they stumble over their dead.
4 flashing sword,
shining spear;
heaps of slain,
mounds of corpses,
dead bodies without end(D)—
they stumble over their dead.
Because of the continual prostitution of the prostitute,
the attractive mistress of sorcery,
who betrays nations by her prostitution
and clans by her witchcraft,(E)
5
6 the attractive mistress of sorcery,
who betrays nations by her prostitution
and clans by her witchcraft,(E)
I will throw filth on you
and treat you with contempt;
I will make a spectacle of you.
7 and treat you with contempt;
I will make a spectacle of you.
Then all who see you will recoil from you, saying,
“Nineveh is devastated;
who will show sympathy to her?”
Where can I find anyone to comfort you?
“Nineveh is devastated;
who will show sympathy to her?”
Where can I find anyone to comfort you?
12
All your fortresses are fig trees
with figs that ripened first;
when shaken, they fall—
right into the mouth of the eater!
with figs that ripened first;
when shaken, they fall—
right into the mouth of the eater!
13
Look, your troops are like women among you;
the gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies.
Fire will devour the bars of your gates.
the gates of your land
are wide open to your enemies.
Fire will devour the bars of your gates.
14
Draw water for the siege;
strengthen your fortresses.
Step into the clay and tread the mortar;
take hold of the brick-mold!
15 strengthen your fortresses.
Step into the clay and tread the mortar;
take hold of the brick-mold!
The fire will devour you there;
the sword will cut you down.
It will devour you like the young locust.(K)
Multiply yourselves like the young locust,
multiply like the swarming locust!
16
17 the sword will cut you down.
It will devour you like the young locust.(K)
Multiply yourselves like the young locust,
multiply like the swarming locust!
Your court officials are like the swarming locust,
and your scribes like clouds of locusts,
which settle on the walls on a cold day;
when the sun rises, they take off,
and no one knows where they are.
and your scribes like clouds of locusts,
which settle on the walls on a cold day;
when the sun rises, they take off,
and no one knows where they are.
18
King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber;
your officers sleep.
Your people are scattered across the mountains
with no one to gather them together.(M)
19 your officers sleep.
Your people are scattered across the mountains
with no one to gather them together.(M)
There is no remedy for your injury;
your wound is severe.(N)
All who hear the news about you
will clap their hands because of you,
for who has not experienced
your constant cruelty?
your wound is severe.(N)
All who hear the news about you
will clap their hands because of you,
for who has not experienced
your constant cruelty?
Footnotes:
a.
Nahum 3:8: Or No-amon
b.
Nahum 3:8: LXX, Syr, Vg read water
c.
Nahum 3:8: Lit sea from sea
d.
Nahum 3:9: Lit your
e.
Nahum 3:11: Nineveh
f.
Nahum 3:11: Or will be overcome
g.
Nahum 3:16: Or sheds [its skin]