Nahum 2
The destroyer advances against Nineveh — chariots race through the streets like lightning, the gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace dissolves. The city that was once the den of lions is plundered and emptied. The LORD of hosts declares He is against her, and her chariots will burn in the smoke.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. | He who dashes in pieces has come up against your face. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace Your loins, fortify Your power mightily. |
| 2 | 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. | For the LORD will restore the excellency of Jacob as the excellency of Israel — for the emptiers have emptied them out and marred their vine branches. |
| 3 | 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. | The shield of His mighty men is made red; the valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots are with flaming torches in the day of His preparation, and the fir spears are terribly shaken. |
| 4 | 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. | The chariots rage in the streets; they jostle one against another in the broad ways. They seem like torches; they run like the lightnings. |
| 5 | 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 calls together His nobles; they stumble in their walk. They make haste to the wall, and the defense is prepared. |
| 6 | The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved. | The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. |
| 7 | 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. | And Huzzab will be led away captive; she will be brought up, and her maids will lead her with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts. |
| 8 | 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. | But Nineveh of old is like a pool of water, yet they flee away. "Stand! Stand!" they will cry, but none looks back. |
| 9 | 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. | Take the spoil of silver! Take the spoil of gold! There is no end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture. |
| 10 | 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 empty, and void, and waste. The heart melts; the knees strike together; much pain is in all loins; and the faces of them all gather blackness. |
| 11 | 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 dwelling of the lions, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, with none to make them afraid? |
| 12 | 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 tore in pieces enough for His whelps, and strangled for His lionesses, and filled His holes with prey, and His dens with ravin. |
| 13 | 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. | "I am against You," says the LORD of hosts. "I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour Your young lions. I will cut off Your prey from the earth, and the voice of Your messengers will be heard no more." |