1The one scattering is coming up against your face. Guard the rampart; watch the way; make the loins strong, firm up your power exceedingly. 2For Jehovah has restored the excellence of Jacob as the excellence of Israel. For the emptiers have emptied them and have destroyed their vine branches. 3The shield of his mighty ones has become red, the mighty men are clothed in scarlet, the chariots will come like iron torches in the day of his preparation, and the cypresses are made to shake terribly. 4The chariots run madly in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways. Their appearance is like torches; they run swiftly like lightning. 5He shall remember its nobles; they shall stumble in their walking; they shall hurry to its wall, and the defense shall be prepared. 6The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be melted. 7And she who stood firm shall be uncovered and carried away; and her maidservants shall lead on, moaning like the sound of doves, beating on their breasts. 8And Nineveh of old is like a pool of water; yet they are fleeing. They cry, Halt! Halt! But no one turns back. 9Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! For there is no end to the treasures, and riches from all precious objects. 10She is empty, desolate, and waste. And the heart is melted, and the knees knocking; and trembling is in all the loins; and all of their faces are flushed. 11Where is the den of the lions and the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, the lioness, the lion’s cub walked, and no one made them afraid? 12The lion tore in pieces, enough for his cubs, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, even his lairs with torn prey. 13Behold, I am against you, declares Jehovah of Hosts; and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. And I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall not be heard any more.