Nahum 2

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.	1 He ascends, who would scatter before your eyes, who would maintain the blockade. Contemplate the way, fortify your back, reinforce virtue greatly.
2 The hammer comes up against you; guard the rampart, Keep watch on the road, gird your loins, marshall all your strength!	2 For the Lord has repaid the arrogance of Jacob, just like the arrogance of Israel. For the despoilers have scattered them, and they have corrupted their procreation.
3 The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, Though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils.	3 The shield of his strong ones is fire, the men of war are in scarlet. The reins of the chariot are fiery in the day of his preparation, and the drivers have been drugged.
4 The shields of his warriors are crimsoned, the soldiers colored in scarlet; Fiery steel are the chariots on the day of his mustering. The horses are frenzied;	4 They have become confused on their journey. The four-horse chariots have collided in the streets. Their appearance is like torches, like lightning dashing around.
5 the chariots dash madly through the streets And wheel in the squares, looking like firebrands, flashing like lightning bolts.	5 He will call to mind his strong ones; they will destroy along their journey. They will quickly ascend its walls, and a shelter will be prepared.
6 His picked troops are called, ranks break at their charge; To the wall they rush, the mantelet is set up.	6 The gates of the rivers have been opened, and the temple has been pulled down to the ground.
7 The river gates are opened, the palace shudders,	7 And the foot soldier has been led away captive, and her handmaids were driven away, mourning like doves, murmuring in their hearts.
8 Its mistress is led forth captive, and her handmaids, under guard, Moaning like doves, beating their breasts.	8 And Nineveh, her waters are like a fish pond. Yet truly, they have fled away: “Stand, stand!” But there is no one who will turn back.
9 Nineveh is like a pool whose waters escape; "Stop! Stop!" but none turns back.	9 Despoil the silver, despoil the gold. And there is no end to all the riches of desirable equipment.
10 "Plunder the silver, plunder the gold!" There is no end to the treasure, to their wealth in precious things of every kind!	10 She has been scattered, and cut, and torn apart. And the heart melts, and the knees buckle, and weakness is in every temperament. And the faces of them all are like a black kettle.
11 Emptiness, desolation, waste; melting hearts and trembling knees, Writhing in every frame, every face blanched!	11 Where is the dwelling place of the lions, and the feeding ground of the young lions, to which the lion went, so as to open a way for the young lion, and so that there would be none to make them afraid?
12 Where is the lions' cave, the young lions' den, Where the lion went in and out, and the cub, with no one to disturb them?	12 The lion seized enough for his young, and killed enough for his lionesses, and he filled his caves with prey, and his den with spoils.
13 The lion snatched enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses; He filled his dens with prey, and his caves with plunder.	13 Behold, I will come to you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots even to smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. And I will exterminate your prey from the land, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
14 I come against you, says the LORD of hosts; I will consume in smoke your chariots, and the sword shall devour your young lions; Your preying on the land I will bring to an end, the cry of your lionesses shall be heard no more.