Nahum

Nineveh’s Wickedness and Doom

Chapter 3

¹ Alas for the city of blood, all finished, full of deceit, prey-filled! It does not let go of its prey. ² Sound of the whip, sound of the rattling wheel, horse galloping, chariot jolting. ³ The verdict goes up and the blade of the sword and the flash of the spear, and multitude of slain and heaviness of carcasses, and there is no end to the nation, and they stumble in their nation. ⁴ From the abundance of her whorings, the grace-favored prostitute, mistress of sorceries, the one selling nations in her whorings and families in her sorceries. ⁵ Look, I am against you—this is the LORD of hosts' declaration. I will lift your skirts over your face, and I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame. ⁶ And I will throw abominations upon you, and your disgrace and your filthiness like a mirror. ⁷ And it will be that everyone who sees you will recoil from you and say, "Nineveh is plundered! Who will lament for her? From where shall I seek comforters for you?" ⁸ Are you better than No-Amon, the one sitting among rivers, waters all around her, whose rampart is the sea, even waters? ⁹ Cush and Egypt and Put and the Libyans were your helpers without end. ¹⁰ She too went into exile, into captivity. Even her infants they dashed against the head of every street. Over her nobles they cast lots, and all her great men they chained in fetters. ¹¹ You too will be drunk; you will be hidden. You too will seek a stronghold from the enemy. ¹² All your fortified cities are like figs with firstfruits; when they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater. ¹³ Behold, your people are women in your midst; the gates of your land are opened to your enemies; fire has eaten your bars. ¹⁴ The LORD of the siege: Draw for yourself! Strengthen your fortresses! Go into the clay and tread in the mortar! Strengthen the brick! ¹⁵ There fire will devour you; it will cut you down with the sword. It will devour you like the locust. Make yourself heavy like the locust, make yourself heavy like the locust. ¹⁶ You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. It devours, spreads out, and flies away. ¹⁷ Your courtiers are like the locust, and your scribes are like locust swarms, those camping in the walls on a cold day. The sun rises, and it wanders, and its place is not known. ¹⁸ Your companions have pastured, king of Assyria. Your nobles dwell; his nephesh with your people on the mountains, and there is no gatherer. ¹⁹ There is no healing for your fracture; your wound is incurable. All who hear your report have clapped their hands over you. For on whom has your evil not continually passed?

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