Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 A scatterer has come up against you. Guard the ramparts, watch the road, protect your groin, save your strength!
1
The scatterer has come up against you. Man the ramparts; watch the road; dress for battle; collect all your strength.
2 The LORD will restore the pride of Jacob, indeed, the pride of Israel, because ravagers have destroyed them and spoiled their branches.
2
For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.
3 The shields of his warriors are red; his soldiers are dressed in crimson. The ironwork of the chariots flashes like fire on the day he has prepared; the horses quiver.
3
The shield of his mighty men is red; his soldiers are clothed in scarlet. The chariots come with flashing metal on the day he musters them; the cypress spears are brandished.
4 The chariots race wildly through the streets; they rush back and forth through the squares. They look like flaming torches; they dart like bolts of lightning.
4
The chariots race madly through the streets; they rush to and fro through the squares; they gleam like torches; they dart like lightning.
5 He musters his officers; they stumble as they press forward. They hurry to the city wall, and the portable shield is set up.
5
He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go, they hasten to the wall; the siege tower is set up.
6 The gates of the rivers are opened; the palace melts.
6
The river gates are opened; the palace melts away;
7 It is decreed: She is sent into exile, carried away, while her female servants moan like doves, beating their breasts.
7
its mistress is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts.
8 Nineveh has been like a pool of water. Such are its waters, and others are fleeing. "Stop, stop!"—but no one can turn them back.
8
Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. "Halt! Halt!" they cry, but none turns back.
9 Plunder silver! Plunder gold! There is no end to the supplies, an abundance of precious objects!
9
Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.
10 Destruction and devastation; the city is laid waste! The heart grows faint and knees buckle; there is anguish in every groin; all the faces grow pale.
10
Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!
11 Where is the lions' den, the meadow of the young lions, where lion, lioness, even lion cub go about with no one to terrify them?
11
Where is the lions' den, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion and lioness went, where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12 The lion has torn enough prey for his cubs and strangled enough for his lionesses; he has filled his lairs with prey, his dens with torn flesh.
12
The lion tore enough for his cubs and strangled prey for his lionesses; he filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.
13 Look! I am against you, proclaims the LORD of heavenly forces. I will burn your chariots in smoke; the sword will devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, the voice of your messengers will never again be heard!
13
Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.