New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 The destroyern is coming to attack you, Nineveh. Guard the defenses. Watch the road. Get ready. Gather all your strength!
1
An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal 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.
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 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.
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 race through the streets and rush back and forth through the city squares. They look like torches; they run like lightning.
4
The chariots storm through the streets, rushing back and forth through the squares. They look like flaming torches; they dart about like lightning.
5 Hen calls his officers, but they stumble on the way. They hurry to the city wall, and the shield is put into place.
5
Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. They dash to the city wall; the protective shield is put in place.
6 The river gates are thrown open, and the palace is destroyed.
6
The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7 It has been announced that the people of Nineveh will be captured and carried away. The slave girls moan like doves and beat their breasts, because they are sad.
7
It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. Her female slaves moan like doves and beat on their breasts.
8 Nineveh is like a pool, and now its water is draining away. "Stop! Stop!" the people yell, but no one turns back.
8
Nineveh is like a pool whose water is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
9 Take the silver! Take the gold! There is no end to the treasure -- piles of wealth of every kind.
9
Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! The supply is endless, the wealth from all its treasures!
10 Nineveh is robbed, ruined, and destroyed. The people lose their courage, and their knees knock. Stomachs ache, and everyone's face grows pale.
10
She is pillaged, plundered, stripped! Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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.