2:1 The
scatterer
has
come
up
against
you.
Man
the
ramparts;
watch
the
road;
dress
for
battle;
collect
all
your
strength.
2:2 For
the
LORD
is
restoring
the
majesty
of
Jacob
as
the
majesty
of
Israel,
for
plunderers
have
plundered
them
and
ruined
their
branches.
2:3 The
shield
of
his
mighty
men
is
red;
his
soldiers
are
clothed
in
scarlet.
The
chariots
come
with
flashing
metal
on
the
day
he
musters
them;
the
cypress
spears
are
brandished.
2:4 The
chariots
race
madly
through
the
streets;
they
rush
to
and
fro
through
the
squares;
they
gleam
like
torches;
they
dart
like
lightning.
2:5 He
remembers
his
officers;
they
stumble
as
they
go,
they
hasten
to
the
wall;
the
siege
tower
is
set
up.
2:6 The
river
gates
are
opened;
the
palace
melts
away;
2:7 its
mistress
is
stripped;
she
is
carried
off,
her
slave
girls
lamenting,
moaning
like
doves
and
beating
their
breasts.
2:8 Nineveh
is
like
a
pool
whose
waters
run
away.
"Halt!
Halt!"
they
cry,
but
none
turns
back.
2:9 Plunder
the
silver,
plunder
the
gold!
There
is
no
end
of
the
treasure
or
of
the
wealth
of
all
precious
things.
2:10 Desolate!
Desolation
and
ruin!
Hearts
melt
and
knees
tremble;
anguish
is
in
all
loins;
all
faces
grow
pale!
2:11 Where
is
the
lions'
den,
the
feeding
place
of
the
young
lions,
where
the
lion
and
lioness
went,
where
his
cubs
were,
with
none
to
disturb
2:12 The
lion
tore
enough
for
his
cubs
and
strangled
prey
for
his
lionesses;
he
filled
his
caves
with
prey
and
his
dens
with
torn
flesh.
2:13 Behold,
I
am
against
you,
declares
the
LORD
of
hosts,
and
I
will
burn
your
chariots
in
smoke,
and
the
sword
shall
devour
your
young
lions.
I
will
cut
off
your
prey
from
the
earth,
and
the
voice
of
your
messengers
shall
no
longer
be
heard.