Nahum 2

1 ^{a2:1 This verse is 2:2 in MT, and so throughout the chapter} You are being attacked by advancing forces! Guard your rampart! Watch your roads! ^{b2:1 Lit. the road} Prepare yourselves! ^{c2:1 Lit. Strengthen the loins!} Marshall your defenses! ^{d2:1 Lit. Marshall power}ISV — Nahum 2:1

2 For the LORD will restore the glory of Jacob, just as he will restore ^{e2:2 The Heb. lacks will restore} the glory of Israel, although plunderers have devastated them, vandalizing their vine branches.ISV — Nahum 2:2

3 The shields deployed by ^{f2:3 Lit. shield of} Israel’s ^{g2:3 Lit. its} elite forces are scarlet, their valiant men are clothed in crimson. When they are prepared, the polished armament on their chariots will shine, and lances will be brandished about ferociously. ^{h2:3 The Heb. lacks ferociously}ISV — Nahum 2:3

4 Their chariots storm through the streets, jostling each other along broad avenues. They look like torches, as they dart around like lightning.ISV — Nahum 2:4

5 He will remember to summon ^{i2:5 The Heb. lacks to summon} his finest troops. They will stumble on their way, hurrying over to Nineveh’s ^{j2:5 The Heb. lacks Nineveh’s} wall. Their defensive shield is in place.ISV — Nahum 2:5

6 The river gates will be opened, and the palace will collapse.ISV — Nahum 2:6

7 It has been determined: The woman ^{k2:7 i.e. Nineveh personified as a woman} is unveiled and sent away, her servant girls mourn. Beating their breasts, they whimper like doves.ISV — Nahum 2:7

8 Nineveh is a reservoir whose water is draining away. “Wait! Wait!” they cry, ^{l2:8 The Heb. lacks they cry} yet not even one person ^{m2:8 The Heb. lacks person} looks back.ISV — Nahum 2:8

9 Take the silver! Take the gold! There is no end to the treasure— fabulous riches of every imagination.ISV — Nahum 2:9

10 Nineveh ^{n2:10 Lit. She; i.e. Nineveh personified as a woman} is devastated, deserted, and desolate. Her heart melts, her knees knock. Every stomach is upset, every face grows pale. ^{o2:10 Lit. gathers blackness; cf. Joel 2:6b}ISV — Nahum 2:10

11 Where is this lion’s den? Where is the place where the young lions fed, where the lion and its mate walked with their young, the place where they feared nothing?ISV — Nahum 2:11

12 This lion renders its prey to pieces to feed its whelps, and strangles enough prey ^{p2:12 The Heb. lacks prey} for its mate, filling its lairs with prey and its dens with rendered flesh.ISV — Nahum 2:12

13 “I am against you,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “and I will send your chariots up in smoke. A sword will devour your young lions, I will eliminate your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”ISV — Nahum 2:13