Prophetic Vision of the Fall of Nineveh

3 The shields of his warriors are dyed red;

the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments.

The metal fittings of the chariots shine

like fire on the day of battle;

the soldiers brandish their spears.

4 The chariots race madly through the streets,

they rush back and forth in the broad plazas;

they look like lightning bolts,

they dash here and there like flashes of lightning.

5 The commander orders his officers;

they stumble as they advance;

they rush to the city wall

and they set up the covered siege tower.

6 The sluice gates are opened;

the royal palace is deluged and dissolves.

7 Nineveh is taken into exile and is led away;

her slave girls moan like doves while they beat their breasts.

8 Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days,

but now her people are running away;

she cries out: “Stop! Stop!” –

but no one turns back.

9 Her conquerors cry out:

“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!”

There is no end to the treasure;

riches of every kind of precious thing.

10 Destruction, devastation, and desolation!

Their hearts faint,

their knees tremble,

each stomach churns, each face turns pale!