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The Overthrow of Nineveh

^1 (F1)The one who ^(C1)scatters has come up against you Nineveh.
Man the fortress and ramparts, watch the road;
^(F2)Strengthen your back prepare for battle, summon all your strength.

² For the LORD will restore the ^(C1)splendor and majesty of Jacob
^(C2)Like the splendor of ancient and united Israel,
Even though destroyers have destroyed them
And ^(C3)ruined their vine branches. ^(VR1)

³ The shields of his soldiers of ^(F1)Media and Babylon are colored red;
The warriors are dressed in ^(C1)scarlet.
The chariots blaze with fire of flashing steel
When he is prepared to march,
And the cypress ^(C2)spears are brandished for battle.

⁴ The ^(C1)chariots race madly in the streets;
They rush wildly in the broad plazas.
Their appearance is like torches;
They rush in various directions like forked lightning.

^5 (F1)He remembers and summons his ^(C1)nobles;
They ^(C2)stumble in their march terrified because of the attack.
They hurry to the city wall,
And the ^(F2)mantelet is prepared and firmly set up.

⁶ The gates of the rivers surrounding Nineveh are opened
And the palace of sun-dried brick is dissolved by the torrents.

⁷ It is decreed:
Nineveh is stripped, and she is carried away,
And her handmaids are ^(C1)moaning like the sound of doves,
^(C2)Beating on their breasts in sorrow.

⁸ Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,
Now her inhabitants are fleeing;
"Stop! Stop!" a few cry,
But ^(C1)no one turns back.

⁹ Plunder the silver!
Plunder the ^(C1)gold!
For there is no end to the treasure—
Wealth from every precious object.

^10 (C1)She is emptied! She is desolate and waste!
^(C2)Hearts melting in fear and knees knocking!
Anguish is in the whole body,
And the ^(C3)faces of all grow pale! ^(VR1)

¹¹ Where is the den of the lions (Assyria)
And the feeding place of the ^(C1)young lions,
Where the lion, lioness, and lion's cub prowled
With nothing to fear?

¹² The lion of Assyria tore enough for his cubs (Assyrian citizens),
Killed enough prey for his lionesses,
And filled his lairs with prey
And his dens with torn flesh.

¹³ "Behold, ^(C1)I am against you Nineveh," declares the LORD of hosts, "and I will ^(C2)burn your chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will ^(C3)cut off your prey from the land, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard."