Nahum 2

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 To Judah See on the mountains the feet of the herald! 'Peace!' he proclaims. Judah, celebrate yourfeasts, carry out your vows, for Belial wil never pass through you again; he has been utterly destroyed.	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.
2 The destroyer has advanced on you, guarding the siege-works, watching the road, bracing himself,mustering great strength!	2 The hammer comes up against you; guard the rampart, Keep watch on the road, gird your loins, marshall all your strength!
3 (For Yahweh has restored the vine of Jacob, yes, the vine of Israel, although the plunderers hadplundered them, although they had snapped off their vine-shoots!)	3 The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, Though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils.
4 The shields of his fighting men show red, his warriors are dressed in scarlet; the metal of the chariotssparkles as he prepares for battle; the horsemen are impatient for action;	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;
5 the chariots storm through the streets, jostling one another in the squares; they look like blazing flames,like lightning they dash to and fro.	5 the chariots dash madly through the streets And wheel in the squares, looking like firebrands, flashing like lightning bolts.
6 His captains are cal ed out; stumbling as they go, they speed towards the wall, and the mantelet is putin position.	6 His picked troops are called, ranks break at their charge; To the wall they rush, the mantelet is set up.
7 The sluices of the River are opened, and the palace melts in terror.	7 The river gates are opened, the palace shudders,
8 Beauty is taken captive, carried away, her slave-girls moaning like doves	8 Its mistress is led forth captive, and her handmaids, under guard, Moaning like doves, beating their breasts.
9 and beating their breasts. Nineveh is like a lake, whose waters are draining away. 'Stop! Stop!' But noone turns back.	9 Nineveh is like a pool whose waters escape; "Stop! Stop!" but none turns back.
10 'Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!' There is no end to the treasure, a mass of everything you coulddesire!	10 "Plunder the silver, plunder the gold!" There is no end to the treasure, to their wealth in precious things of every kind!
11 Ravaged, wrecked, ruined! Heart fails and knees give way, anguish is in the loins of al , and everyface grows pale!	11 Emptiness, desolation, waste; melting hearts and trembling knees, Writhing in every frame, every face blanched!
12 Where is the lions' den now, the cave of the lion's whelps, where the lion and lioness walked with theircubs and no one molested them,	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?
13 where the lion would tear up food for his whelps and strangle the kil for his mates, where he fil ed hiscaverns with prey and his lairs with spoil?	13 The lion snatched enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses; He filled his dens with prey, and his caves with plunder.
14 Look, I am against you!- declares Yahweh Sabaoth- I shal send your chariots up in smoke, and thesword will devour your whelps; I shal cut short your depredations on earth, and the voices of your envoys wil beheard no more.	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.