Nahum 2

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.

The one who destroys is now before you. Stay strong, be alert, gather your strength, and powerfully reinforce your defenses.

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.

God has withdrawn His favor from Jacob, just as He did with Israel. Those who sought to harm them have succeeded, leaving them devastated and their fruitful branches damaged.

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.

His brave warriors' shields glow red, their courage shines bright like scarlet. On the day of battle, their chariots blaze like fiery torches, causing the forest to tremble in fear.

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.

Chariots will roar down the streets, bumping and jostling each other in the wide squares. They'll blaze like torches, speeding like lightning.

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.

He will honor his heroes, yet they may falter in their journey. They will rush to its walls, readying their defenses.

The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.

The river's doors will swing wide open, and the grand castle will crumble.

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.

Huzzab will be taken as a prisoner, raised up, and her servants will guide her, their voices soft like cooing doves, beating their chests in sorrow.

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.

Nineveh, ancient and deep as a still pond, will see its people scatter. They'll shout "Stand, stand!" but no one will dare to glance back.

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.

Claim the silver, seize the gold; there's no end to the wealth and splendor found in all the beautiful treasures.

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.

She is emptied, stripped bare, and laid waste. Hearts melt, knees knock together, every body is wracked with pain, and everyone's face turns pale with terror.

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?

Where is the home of the fearless lions, both young and old, where they roam and feed without fear?

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.

The lion fiercely hunted for his cubs, fiercely killed for his lionesses, and filled his lair with food, his home with spoils.

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.

Listen, I, the Lord of all, am against you. I will set your vehicles ablaze, and your young warriors will fall to the sword. I will end your reign of terror on earth, and silence the voices of your messengers forever.