1
Woe to the city of blood, all of it full of falsehood and plunder. Prey never departs.
2
The sound of the whip, and the sound of rattling wheels, and galloping horses, and bounding chariots.
3
Horsemen charging, flashing sword and gleaming spear, and a multitude of slain, and a mass of corpses, and there is no end to the bodies. They stumble over their bodies.
4
Because of the multitude of the prostitutions of the prostitute, beautiful in favor, a mistress of sorceries, who sells nations through her prostitutions, and families through her sorceries.
5
“See, I am against you,” declares Yahuah of Hosts. “And I will lift your skirts over your face, and show the nations your nakedness, and kingdoms your shame.
6
And I will cast abominations upon you and make you vile, and I will make you a spectacle.
7
And it shall be that everyone who sees you shall flee from you and say: ‘Nineveh is devastated. Who will mourn for her?’ From where shall I seek comforters for you?”
8
Are you better than No-Amon, which sat among the rivers, waters all around her, whose rampart was the sea, and whose wall was from the sea?
9
Kush was her strength, and Mitzrayim, and there was no end. Put and Lubim were among your helpers.
10
Yet she also went into exile. She went into captivity. Her infants also were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. And over her honored men they cast lots, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11
You also shall become drunk. You shall become hidden. You also shall seek refuge from the enemy.
12
All your fortresses are fig trees with first-ripe figs. If they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
13
See, your people are women in your midst. The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies. Fire has consumed your bars.
14
Draw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay and tread the mortar. Take hold of the brick mold.
15
There fire shall consume you. The sword shall cut you off. It shall consume you like the licking locust. Multiply yourself like the licking locust. Multiply yourself like the swarming locust.
16
You multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The licking locust strips and flies away.
17
Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your officials like clouds of locusts, which camp in the walls on a cold day. But when the sun rises, they flee, and the place where they were is not known.
18
Your shepherds sleep, king of Ashshur. Your mighty ones lie down. Your people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them.
19
There is no healing for your breaking. Your wound is grievous. All who hear the report concerning you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has your evil not passed continually?