54 Or “have been opened wide.” The Niphal perfect נִפְתְּחוּ (niftékhu) from פָּתַח (patach, “to open”) may designate a past-time action (“have been opened wide”) or a present-time circumstance (“are wide open”). The present-time sense is preferred in vv. 13–14. When used in reference to present-time circumstances, the perfect tense represents a situation occurring at the very instant the expression is being uttered; this is the so-called “instantaneous perfect” ( §30.5.1). The root פָּתַח (“to open”) is repeated for emphasis to depict the helpless state of the Assyrian defenses: פָּתוֹחַ נִפְתְּחוּ (patoakh niftékhu, “wide open”).
55 Or “has consumed.” The Qal perfect אָכְלָה (’okhlah) from אָכַל (’akhal, “to consume”) refers either to a past-time action (“has consumed”) or a present-time action (“consumes”). The context suggests the present-time sense is preferable here. This is an example of the “instantaneous perfect” which represents a situation occurring at the very instant the expression is being uttered (see §30.5.1).
56 Heb “your bars.”
57 Heb “waters of siege.”
58 Heb “go into the mud.”
59 Heb “Take hold of the mud-brick mold!”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Behold, your troops

are women in your midst.

The gates of your land

are wide open to your enemies;

fire has devoured your bars.

Draw water for the siege;

strengthen your forts;

go into the clay;

tread the mortar;

take hold of the brick mold!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Look at your troops—

they are all weaklings.

The gates of your land

are wide open to your enemies;

fire has consumed the bars of your gates.

Draw water for the siege,

strengthen your defenses!

Work the clay,

tread the mortar,

repair the brickwork!

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Look, your troops are like women among you;

your land’s city gates

are wide open to your enemies.

Fire will devour the bars of your gates.

Draw water for the siege;

strengthen your fortresses.

Step into the clay and tread the mortar;

take hold of the brick-mold!

NLTNew Living Translation

Your troops will be as weak

and helpless as women.

The gates of your land will be opened wide to the enemy

and set on fire and burned.

Get ready for the siege!

Store up water!

Strengthen the defenses!

Go into the pits to trample clay,

and pack it into molds,

making bricks to repair the walls.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Look! Your troops are like women in your midst.

The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies;

fire will consume the bars of your gates.

Draw water for a siege!

Strengthen your fortifications!

Go to the mud pit!

Trample the clay!

Grasp the brick mold!

KJV 1900King James Version

Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women:

The gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies:

The fire shall devour thy bars.

Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds:

Go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.

Public Domain