Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and booty--no end to the plunder!
1
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!
2 The crack of whip, and rumble of wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot!
2
The crack of whips, the clatter of wheels, galloping horses and jolting chariots!
3 Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end--they stumble over the bodies!
3
Charging cavalry, flashing swords and glittering spears! Many casualties, piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over the corpses—
4 And all for the countless harlotries of the harlot, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her harlotries, and peoples with her charms.
4
all because of the wanton lust of a prostitute, alluring, the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations by her prostitution and peoples by her witchcraft.
5 Behold, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will let nations look on your nakedness and kingdoms on your shame.
5
“I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame.
6 I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt, and make you a gazingstock.
6
I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.
7 And all who look on you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nin'eveh; who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for her?
7
All who see you will flee from you and say, ‘Nineveh is in ruins—who will mourn for her?’ Where can I find anyone to comfort you?”
8 Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, and water her wall?
8
Are you better than Thebes, situated on the Nile, with water around her? The river was her defense, the waters her wall.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.