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Nahum 2
New International Reader's Version
Nahum 2
New International Reader's Version
The Lord Will Destroy Nineveh
2 Nineveh, armies are coming to attack you.
Guard the forts!
Watch the roads!
Get ready!
Gather all your strength!
2 Assyria once took everything of value from God’s people.
Its army destroyed all their vines.
But the Lord will bring back
the glory of Jacob’s people.
He’ll make Israel glorious again.
3 The shields of the soldiers are red.
The warriors are dressed in bright red uniforms.
The metal on their chariots flashes
when they are prepared for war.
Their spears made out of juniper are ready to use.
4 The chariots race through the main streets.
They rush back and forth through them.
They look like flaming torches.
They dart around like lightning.
5 Nineveh sends for their special troops.
But they trip and fall on their way.
They run toward the city wall.
They keep their shield in front of them.
6 The attackers open the gates that hold back
the waters of the river.
And the palace falls down.
7 The attackers order that Nineveh’s people
be taken away as prisoners.
The female slaves sound like doves as they mourn.
They beat their chests.
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose water is draining away.
“Stop running away!” someone cries out.
But no one turns back.
9 “Steal the silver!” the attackers shout.
“Grab the gold!”
The supply is endless.
There is plenty of wealth
among all the city’s treasures.
10 Nineveh is destroyed, robbed and stripped!
Hearts melt away in fear.
Knees give way.
Bodies tremble with fear.
Everyone’s face turns pale.
11 Assyria is like a lion.
Where is the lions’ den now?
Where did they feed their cubs?
Where did all the lions go?
In their den they had nothing to fear.
12 The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat.
He choked what he caught for his mate.
He filled his home with what he had killed.
He brought to his dens what he had caught.
13 “Nineveh, I am against you,”
announces the Lord who rules over all.
“I will burn up your chariots with fire.
Your young lions will be killed by swords.
I will leave you nothing on earth to catch.
The voices of your messengers
will no longer be heard.”
Nahum 2
New International Version
Nahum 2
New International Version
Nineveh to Fall
2 [a]An attacker(A) advances against you, Nineveh.
Guard the fortress,
watch the road,
brace yourselves,
marshal all your strength!
2 The Lord will restore(B) the splendor(C) of Jacob
like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
and have ruined their vines.
3 The shields of the soldiers are red;
the warriors are clad in scarlet.(D)
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of juniper are brandished.[b]
4 The chariots(E) storm through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning.
5 Nineveh summons her picked troops,
yet they stumble(F) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
the protective shield is put in place.
6 The river gates(G) are thrown open
and the palace collapses.
7 It is decreed[c] that Nineveh
be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan(H) like doves
and beat on their breasts.(I)
8 Nineveh is like a pool
whose water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
but no one turns back.
9 Plunder the silver!
Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
the wealth from all its treasures!
10 She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
Hearts melt,(J) knees give way,
bodies tremble, every face grows pale.(K)
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.