Nahum 3:12-14

International Standard Version

¹²All your defenses are like fig trees with ripe early fruit—
    when shaken, it falls right into the devourer’s mouth.
¹³Look at your people—^[a]
    they are women!
Your borders stand wide open to your enemies,
    while fire consumes the bars of your gates.”

The Futility of Avoiding God’s Judgment

¹⁴“Draw water, because a siege is coming!^[b]
    Strengthen your fortresses!
Make the clay good and strong!
    Mix the mortar!
        Go get your brick molds!^[c]

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Footnotes

Nahum 3:13 I.e. Nineveh’s army
Nahum 3:14 The Heb. lacks coming
Nahum 3:14 I.e. this verse appears to be affirming the uselessness of constructing a defense against God’s coming judgment.

Nahum 3:12-14

New International Version

¹²All your fortresses are like fig trees
    with their first ripe fruit;^(A)
when they are shaken,
    the figs^(B) fall into the mouth of the eater.
¹³Look at your troops—
    they are all weaklings.^(C)
The gates^(D) of your land
    are wide open to your enemies;
    fire has consumed the bars of your gates.^(E)