Nahum 3:8-19

New International Version

⁸ Are you better than^(A) Thebes,^(B)
    situated on the Nile,^(C)
    with water around her?
The river was her defense,
    the waters her wall.
⁹ Cush^[a](D) and Egypt were her boundless strength;
    Put^(E) and Libya^(F) were among her allies.
¹⁰ Yet she was taken captive^(G)
    and went into exile.
Her infants were dashed^(H) to pieces
    at every street corner.
Lots^(I) were cast for her nobles,
    and all her great men were put in chains.^(J)
11 You too will become drunk;^(K)
    you will go into hiding^(L)
    and seek refuge from the enemy.

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

¹⁴ Draw water for the siege,^(R)
    strengthen your defenses!^(S)
Work the clay,
    tread the mortar,
    repair the brickwork!
¹⁵ There the fire^(T) will consume you;
    the sword^(U) will cut you down—
    they will devour you like a swarm of locusts.
Multiply like grasshoppers,
    multiply like locusts!^(V)
16 You have increased the number of your merchants
    till they are more numerous than the stars in the sky,
but like locusts^(W) they strip the land
    and then fly away.
¹⁷ Your guards are like locusts,^(X)
    your officials like swarms of locusts
    that settle in the walls on a cold day—
but when the sun appears they fly away,
    and no one knows where.

¹⁸ King of Assyria, your shepherds^[b] slumber;^(Y)
    your nobles lie down to rest.^(Z)
Your people are scattered^(AA) on the mountains
    with no one to gather them.
¹⁹ Nothing can heal you;^(AB)
    your wound is fatal.
All who hear the news about you
    clap their hands^(AC) at your fall,
for who has not felt
    your endless cruelty?^(AD)