1The scatterer has ascended upon your face. Watch the fortress; watch the way; strengthen the loins; greatly strengthen strength.2For the LORD has returned the pride of Jacob like the pride of Israel, because those who empty have emptied them and ruined their branches.3The shield of his mighty man is reddened; men of strength are clothed in scarlet with fire of iron. The chariot he prepared in the day, and the cypresses quivered.4Outside the chariot boasts; they rush in the streets. Their appearance is like torches; like lightning they run.5He remembers his great ones; they stumble in their walk; they hasten to her wall, and the protector is prepared.6The gates of the River are opened, and the temple melts.7It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away, and her maidservants moan like the voice of doves, beating upon their hearts.8Nineveh is like a pool of water from her day, and they flee. Stand, stand, and none turns.9Plunder silver; plunder gold; there is no end to the treasure, glory from every desirable vessel.10Emptiness and emptiness and waste; heart melts, knees totter, and anguish is in all loins; the face of all of them gathers pale.11Where is the habitation of lions and the pasture for lions, where the lion went, the lion? There is the whelp of the lion, and none makes them tremble.12The lion tears in the sufficiency of his whelps and strangles for his lions; he fills his hole with prey and his habitations with torn animals.13Look, I am toward you, utterance of the LORD of Hosts: I will burn her chariot in smoke, the sword will eat your lions, I will cut your prey from the land, and the voice of your messenger will not be heard still.