Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh

2:3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red;15

the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments.16

The metal fittings17 of the chariots18 shine

like19 fire20 on the day of battle;21

the soldiers brandish22 their spears.23

2:4 The chariots24 race madly25 through the streets,

they rush back and forth26 in the broad plazas;

they look27 like lightning bolts,28

they dash here and there29 like flashes of lightning.30

2:5 The commander31 orders32 his officers;

they stumble33 as they advance;34

they rush to the city wall35

and they set up36 the covered siege tower.37

2:6 The sluice gates38 are opened;

the royal palace is deluged39 and dissolves.40

2:7 Nineveh41 is taken into exile42 and is led away;43

her slave girls moan44 like doves45 while they beat46 their breasts.47

2:8 Nineveh was like a pool48 of water49 throughout her days,50

but now51 her people52 are running away;53

she cries out:54 “Stop! Stop!”—

but no one turns back.55

2:9 Her conquerors cry out:56

“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!”

There is no end to the treasure;

riches of every kind of precious thing.

2:10 Destruction, devastation, and desolation!57

Their hearts faint,58

their knees tremble,59

each stomach churns,60 each face61 turns62 pale!63