The attacker comes against Nineveh, and the city's defences fall. The lion's den has been plundered, and Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. The LORD says he is against Nineveh.
1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face : keep the munition , watch the way , make thy loins strong , fortify thy power mightily .
2 For 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 .
3 The 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 .
4 The chariots shall rage in the streets , they shall justle one against another in the broad ways : they shall seem like torches , they shall run like the lightnings .
5 He shall recount his worthies : they shall stumble in their walk ; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared .
6 The gates of the rivers shall be opened , and the palace shall be dissolved .
7 And Huzzab shall be led away captive , she shall be brought up , and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves , tabering upon their breasts .
8 But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water : yet they shall flee away . Stand , stand , shall they cry; but none shall look back .
9 Take ye the spoil of silver , take the spoil of gold : for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture .
10 She is empty , and void , and waste : and the heart melteth , and the knees smite together , and much pain is in all loins , and the faces of them all gather blackness .
11 Where is the dwelling of the lions , and the feedingplace of the young lions , where the lion , even the old lion , walked , and the lion's whelp , and none made them afraid ?
12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps , and strangled for his lionesses , and filled his holes with prey , and his dens with ravin .
13 Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts , and I will burn her chariots in the smoke , and the sword shall devour thy young lions : and I will cut off thy prey from the earth , and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard .