1 An attacker advances against you, Nineveh.

Guard the fortress,

watch the road,

brace yourselves,

marshal all your strength!

2 The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob

like the splendor of Israel,

though destroyers have laid them waste

and have ruined their vines.

3 The shields of the soldiers are red;

the warriors are clad in scarlet.

The metal on the chariots flashes

on the day they are made ready;

the spears of juniper are brandished.

4 The chariots storm through the streets,

rushing back and forth through the squares.

They look like flaming torches;

they dart about like lightning.

1 The scatterer has come up against you.

Man the ramparts;

watch the road;

dress for battle;

collect all your strength.

2 For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob

as the majesty of Israel,

for plunderers have plundered them

and ruined their branches.

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.

4 The chariots race madly through the streets;

they rush to and fro through the squares;

they gleam like torches;

they dart like lightning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 Your enemy is coming to crush you, Nineveh.

Man the ramparts! Watch the roads!

Prepare your defenses! Call out your forces!

2 Even though the destroyer has destroyed Judah,

the Lord will restore its honor.

Israel’s vine has been stripped of branches,

but he will restore its splendor.

3 Shields flash red in the sunlight!

See the scarlet uniforms of the valiant troops!

Watch as their glittering chariots move into position,

with a forest of spears waving above them.

4 The chariots race recklessly along the streets

and rush wildly through the squares.

They flash like firelight

and move as swiftly as lightning.

1 The destroyer is coming to attack you, Nineveh.

Guard the defenses.

Watch the road.

Get ready.

Gather all your strength!

2 Destroyers have destroyed God’s people

and ruined their vines,

but the Lord will bring back Jacob’s greatness

like Israel’s greatness.

3 The shields of his soldiers are red;

the army is dressed in red.

The metal on the chariots flashes like fire

when they are ready to attack;

their horses are excited.

4 The chariots race through the streets

and rush back and forth through the city squares.

They look like torches;

they run like lightning.

1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily. 2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches. 3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress spears are brandished. 4 The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings.

1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thy face: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily. 2 For Jehovah hath brought again the glory of Jacob, as the glory of Israel; for the wasters have wasted them, and marred their vine-branches. 3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots glitter with the sheen of steel, in the day of his preparation, and the spears are brandished. 4 The chariots rush madly in the streets, they justle one against another in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches, they run like lightnings.

1 The one who will scatter you is coming to attack you. 

Guard your fortress! 

Keep a lookout on the road! 

Prepare for battle! 

Be very courageous! 

2 The Lord will restore Jacob’s glory like Israel’s glory, 

although enemies have looted it 

and have destroyed its vines. 

3 The shields of his warriors are painted red. 

His soldiers have red uniforms. 

The metal on his chariots flashes fiery red, 

so do the spears when they are waved 

on the day he prepares for battle. 

4 Chariots are racing madly through the streets, 

rushing this way and that in the city squares. 

They look like torches, like lightning, as they dart about. 

1 One who scatters is coming up against you.

Man the fortifications!

Watch the road!

Brace yourself!

Summon all your strength!

2 For the Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob,

yes, the majesty of Israel,

though ravagers have ravaged them

and ruined their vine branches.

3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red;

the valiant men are dressed in scarlet.

The fittings of the chariot flash like fire

on the day of its battle preparations,

and the spears are brandished.

4 The chariots dash madly through the streets;

they rush around in the plazas.

They look like torches;

they dart back and forth like lightning.

1 A shatterer has come up against you.

Guard the ramparts;

watch the road;

gird your loins;

collect all your strength.

2 (For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob,

as well as the majesty of Israel,

though ravagers have ravaged them

and ruined their branches.)

3 The shields of his warriors are red;

his soldiers are clothed in crimson.

The metal on the chariots flashes

on the day when he musters them;

the chargers prance.

4 The chariots race madly through the streets,

they rush to and fro through the squares;

their appearance is like torches,

they dart like lightning.

1 One who shatters has come up against you!

Guard the fortification!

Watch the road!

Gird your loins!

Muster all your strength!

2 For Yahweh will restore the majesty of Jacob

like the majesty of Israel;

for ravagers have ravaged them

and ruined their branches.

3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red;

The powerful men are dressed in scarlet.

The metal of the chariots shines like fire on the day of battle,

and their spears quiver.

4 The chariots race madly through the streets;

they rush back and forth in the public squares.

Their appearance like lightning bolts,

they dart about like flashes of lightning.

1 Nineveh, armies are coming to attack you.

Guard the forts!

Watch the roads!

Get ready!

Gather all of your strength!

2 Assyria once took everything of value from God’s people.

Its army destroyed all of their vines.

But the Lord will bring back

the glory of Jacob’s people.

He’ll make Israel glorious again.

3 The shields of the soldiers attacking Nineveh are red.

The armies are dressed in bright red uniforms.

The metal on their chariots flashes

when they are prepared for war.

Their spears are ready to use.

4 The chariots race through the main streets.

They rush back and forth through them.

They look like flaming torches.

They dart around like lightning.

1 The one who scatters has come up against you.

Man the fortress, watch the road;

Strengthen your back, summon all your strength.

2 For the Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob

Like the splendor of Israel,

Even though devastators have devastated them

And destroyed their vine branches.

3 The shields of his mighty men are colored red,

The warriors are dressed in scarlet,

The chariots are enveloped in flashing steel

When he is prepared to march,

And the cypress spears are brandished.

4 The chariots race madly in the streets,

They rush wildly in the squares,

Their appearance is like torches,

They dash to and fro like lightning flashes.