21 The one who scatters has come up against you. Man the fortress , watch the road ; Strengthen your back , summon all your strength . 2 For the Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob Like the splendor of Israel , Even though devastators have devastated them And destroyed their vine branches . 3 The shields of his mighty men are colored red , The warriors are dressed in scarlet , The chariots are enveloped in flashing steel When he is prepared to march, And the cypress spears are brandished . 4 The chariots race madly in the streets , They rush wildly in the squares , Their appearance is like torches , They dash to and fro like lightning flashes . 5 He remembers his nobles ; They stumble in their march , They hurry to her wall , And the mantelet is set up. 6 The gates of the rivers are opened And the palace is dissolved . 7 It is fixed : She is stripped , she is carried away , And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves , Beating on their breasts . 8 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days , Now they are fleeing ; "Stop , stop ," But no one turns back . 9 Plunder the silver ! Plunder the gold ! For there is no limit to the treasure - Wealth from every kind of desirable object . 10 She is emptied ! Yes, she is desolate and waste ! Hearts are melting and knees knocking ! Also anguish is in the whole body And all their faces are grown pale !
11 Where is the den of the lions And the feeding place of the young lions , Where e the lion , lioness and lion's cub prowled , With nothing to disturb them? 12 The lion tore enough for his cubs , Killed enough for his lionesses , And filled his lairs with prey And his dens with torn flesh .
13 "Behold , I am against you," declares the Lord of hosts . "I will burn up her chariots in smoke , a sword will devour your young lions ; I will cut off your prey from the land , and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard ."
