1 The one scattering has come up before your face; guard the fortress, watch over the road; strengthen your loins, strengthen [your] power greatly!10 Emptiness, an empty place and laid waste! The heart melts, and the knees shake, and [there is] anguish in all loins, and the faces of all of them are gathered to paleness!11 Where [is] the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place that [was] unto the young lions—where there walked the lion [and] lioness, [and] the cub of the lion, and nothing made them afraid?12 The lion was tearing enough for his cubs, and strangling for his lionesses; and he filled his caves [with] prey, and his dens with flesh.13 “Behold, I [am] against you,” a declaration of YHWH of Hosts, “And I will burn in smoke your chariots, and the sword will devour your young lions; and I will cut off your prey from the earth, and will be heard no more the voice of your messengers!”2 For YHWH will restore the majesty of Jacob, like the majesty of Israel, for those emptying have emptied them and have ruined their branches.3 The shields of his mighty men are red; the men of valor are clothed in scarlet; with fire of burning steel the chariots [come] on the day of his preparing, and the cypresses quiver.4 Through the streets the chariots dash; they rush around in the squares; their appearance [is] like torches, like the lightning they run!5 He summons his nobles, they stumble in their walk; they hurry [to] her wall, and the siege-cover is prepared.6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.7 And it is established: She shall be ncovered [and] brought up, and her maidservants will be moaning as the voice of doves, beating on their breasts.8 And Nineveh [was] like a pool of water, from the days of her, and they flee: “Stand, stand,” and no one is turning back.9 “Plunder the silver, plunder the gold!” And there is no end to the provision—the worth of every precious article.