Nahum 3:4–7

4 all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute,

alluring, the mistress of sorceries,

who enslaved nations by her prostitution

and peoples by her witchcraft.

5 “I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty.

“I will lift your skirts over your face.

I will show the nations your nakedness

and the kingdoms your shame.

6 I will pelt you with filth,

I will treat you with contempt

and make you a spectacle.

7 All who see you will flee from you and say,

‘Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for her?’

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”

4 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute,

graceful and of deadly charms,

who betrays nations with her whorings,

and peoples with her charms.

5 Behold, I am against you,

declares the Lord of hosts,

and will lift up your skirts over your face;

and I will make nations look at your nakedness

and kingdoms at your shame.

6 I will throw filth at you

and treat you with contempt

and make you a spectacle.

7 And all who look at you will shrink from you and say,

“Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?”

Where shall I seek comforters for you?

4 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot,

The mistress of witchcrafts,

That selleth nations through her whoredoms,

And families through her witchcrafts.

5 Behold, I am against thee, saith the Lord of hosts;

And I will discover thy skirts upon thy face,

And I will shew the nations thy nakedness,

And the kingdoms thy shame.

6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile,

And will set thee as a gazingstock.

7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say,

Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?

Whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

4 All this because Nineveh,

the beautiful and faithless city,

mistress of deadly charms,

enticed the nations with her beauty.

She taught them all her magic,

enchanting people everywhere.

5 “I am your enemy!”

says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“And now I will lift your skirts

and show all the earth your nakedness and shame.

6 I will cover you with filth

and show the world how vile you really are.

7 All who see you will shrink back and say,

‘Nineveh lies in ruins.

Where are the mourners?’

Does anyone regret your destruction?”

4 Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot,

The mistress of sorceries,

Who sells nations through her harlotries,

And families through her sorceries.

5 “Behold, I am against you,” says the Lord of hosts;

“I will lift your skirts over your face,

I will show the nations your nakedness,

And the kingdoms your shame.

6 I will cast abominable filth upon you,

Make you vile,

And make you a spectacle.

7 It shall come to pass that all who look upon you

Will flee from you, and say,

‘Nineveh is laid waste!

Who will bemoan her?’

Where shall I seek comforters for you?”

4 The city was like a prostitute;

she was charming and a lover of magic.

She made nations slaves with her prostitution

and her witchcraft.

5 “I am against you, Nineveh,” says the Lord All-Powerful.

“I will pull your dress up over your face

and show the nations your nakedness

and the kingdoms your shame.

6 I will throw filthy garbage on you

and make a fool of you.

I will make people stare at you.

7 Everyone who sees you will run away and say,

‘Nineveh is in ruins. Who will cry for her?’

Nineveh, where will I find anyone to comfort you?”

4 because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. 5 Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face; and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock. 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

4 —Because of the multitude of the fornications of the well-favoured harlot, mistress of sorceries, that selleth nations through her fornications, and families through her sorceries, 5 behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts; and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6 And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing stock. 7 And it shall come to pass, that all they that see thee shall flee from thee, and shall say, Nineveh is laid waste! Who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

4 because of Nineveh’s constant prostitution, 

this very charming mistress of evil magic. 

She used to sell 

nations her prostitution 

and people her evil magic.” 

5 “I am against you, Nineveh,” declares the Lord of Armies. 

“I will lift up your dress over your face. 

I will show nations your naked body and kingdoms your disgrace. 

6 I will throw filth on you. 

I will make you look like a fool. 

I will make you a sight to be seen. 

7 Everyone who sees you will run from you, saying, 

‘Nineveh has been violently destroyed! 

Who will feel sorry for her?’ 

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?” 

4 Because of the continual prostitution of the prostitute,

the attractive mistress of sorcery,

who betrays nations by her prostitution

and clans by her witchcraft,

5 I am against you.

This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.

I will lift your skirts over your face

and display your nakedness to nations,

your shame to kingdoms.

6 I will throw filth on you

and treat you with contempt;

I will make a spectacle of you.

7 Then all who see you will recoil from you, saying,

“Nineveh is devastated;

who will show sympathy to her?”

Where can I find anyone to comfort you?

4 Because of the countless debaucheries of the prostitute,

gracefully alluring, mistress of sorcery,

who enslaves nations through her debaucheries

and peoples through her sorcery,

5 I am against you,

says the Lord of hosts,

and will lift up your skirts over your face,

and I will let nations look on your nakedness

and kingdoms on your shame.

6 I will throw filth at you

and treat you with contempt

and make you a spectacle.

7 Then all who see you will shrink from you and say,

“Nineveh is devastated; who will bemoan her?”

Where shall I seek comforters for you?

4 All of that was caused by the evil longings

of the prostitute Nineveh.

That woman who practiced evil magic

was very beautiful.

She used her sinful charms

to make slaves out of the nations.

She worshiped evil powers

in order to trap others.

5 “Nineveh, I am against you,”

announces the Lord who rules over all.

“I will pull your skirts up over your face.

I will show the nations your naked body.

Kingdoms will make fun of your shame.

6 I will throw garbage at you.

I will look down on you.

I will make an example out of you.

7 All those who see you will run away from you.

They will say, ‘Nineveh is destroyed.

Who will sob over it?’

Where can I find someone

to comfort your people?”

4 All because of the many harlotries of the harlot,

The charming one, the mistress of sorceries,

Who sells nations by her harlotries

And families by her sorceries.

5 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord of hosts;

“And I will lift up your skirts over your face,

And show to the nations your nakedness

And to the kingdoms your disgrace.

6 “I will throw filth on you

And make you vile,

And set you up as a spectacle.

7 “And it will come about that all who see you

Will shrink from you and say,

‘Nineveh is devastated!

Who will grieve for her?’

Where will I seek comforters for you?”