Through the Bible – Day 357

₂The LORD God demands loyalty.

In his anger, he takes revenge

on his enemies.

₃The LORD is powerful,

yet patient;

he makes sure that the guilty

are always punished.

He can be seen in storms

and in whirlwinds;

clouds are the dust from his feet.

₄At the LORD's command,

oceans and rivers dry up.

Bashan, Mount Carmel,

and Lebanon wither,

and their flowers fade.

₅At the sight of the LORD,

mountains and hills

tremble and melt;

the earth and its people

shudder and shake.

₆Who can stand the heat

of his furious anger?

It flashes out like fire

and shatters stones.

₇The LORD is good.

He protects those who trust him

in times of trouble.

₈But like a roaring flood,

the LORD chases his enemies

into dark places

and destroys them.

₉So don't plot against the LORD!

He wipes out his enemies,

and they never revive.

₁₀They are like drunkards

overcome by wine,

or like dry thorn bushes

burning in a fire.

₁₁Assyria, one of your rulers

has made evil plans

against the LORD.

₁₂But the LORD says, “Assyria,

no matter how strong you are,

you are doomed!

My people Judah,

I have troubled you before,

but I won't do it again.

₁₃I'll snap your chains

and set you free

from the Assyrians.”

₁₄Assyria, this is what else

the LORD says to you:

“Your name will be forgotten.

I will destroy every idol

in your temple,

and I will send you to the grave,

because you are worthless.”

₁₅Look towards the mountains,

people of Judah!

Here comes a messenger

with good news of peace.

Celebrate your festivals.

Keep your promises to God.

Your evil enemies are destroyed

and will never again

invade your country.

₁Nineveh, someone is coming

to attack and scatter you.

Guard your fortresses!

Watch the road! Be brave!

Prepare for battle!

₂Judah and Israel are like trees

with branches broken

by their enemies.

But the LORD is going to restore

their power and glory.

_3-4Nineveh, on this day of attack,

your enemies' shields are red;

their uniforms are crimson.

Their horses prance,

and their armoured chariots

dart around like lightning

or flaming torches.

₅An officer gives a command.

But his soldiers stumble,

as they hasten to build

a shelter to protect themselves

against rocks thrown down

from the city wall.

₆The river gates fly open,

and panic floods the palace.

₇Nineveh is disgraced.

The queen is dragged off.

Her servant women mourn;

they sound like doves,

and they beat their breasts

in sorrow.

₈Nineveh is like a pond

with leaking water.

Shouts of “Stop! Don't go!”

can be heard everywhere.

But everyone is leaving.

₉Enemy soldiers shout,

“The city is full of treasure

and all kinds of wealth.

Steal her silver! Grab her gold!”

₁₀Nineveh is doomed! Destroyed!

Her people tremble with fear;

their faces turn pale.

₁₁What happened to this city?

They were safer there

than powerful lions in a den,

with no one to disturb them.

₁₂These are the same lions

that ferociously attacked

their victims,

then dragged away the flesh

to feed their young.

₁₃The LORD All-Powerful,

is against you, Nineveh.

God will burn your chariots

and send an army to kill

those young lions of yours.

You will never again

make victims of others

or send messengers to threaten

everyone on this earth.

₁Doom to the crime capital!

Nineveh, city of murder

and treachery,

₂here is your fate—

cracking whips,

churning wheels;

galloping horses,

roaring chariots;

₃cavalry attacking,

swords and spears flashing;

soldiers stumbling

over piles of dead bodies.

₄You were nothing more

than a prostitute

using your magical charms

and witchcraft

to attract and trap nations.

₅But I, the LORD All-Powerful,

am now your enemy.

I will pull up your skirt

and let nations and kingdoms

stare at your nakedness.

₆I will cover you with rubbish,

treat you like trash,

and rub you in the dirt.

₇Everyone who sees you

will turn away and shout,

“Nineveh is done for!

Is anyone willing to mourn

or to give her comfort?”

₈Nineveh, do you feel safer

than the city of Thebes?

The River Nile

was its wall of defence.

₉Thebes trusted the mighty power

of Ethiopia and Egypt;

the nations of Put and Libya

were her allies.

₁₀But she was captured and taken

to a foreign country.

Her children were murdered

at every street corner.

The members of her royal family

were auctioned off,

and her high officials

were bound in chains.

₁₁Nineveh, now it's your turn!

You will get drunk and try to hide

from your enemy.

₁₂Your fortresses are fig trees

with ripe figs.

Merely shake the trees,

and fruit will fall

into every open mouth.

₁₃Your army is weak.

Fire has destroyed the crossbars

on your city gates;

now they stand wide open

to your enemy.

₁₄Your city is under attack.

Haul in extra water!

Strengthen your defences!

Start making bricks!

Stir the mortar!

₁₅You will still go up in flames

and be cut down by swords

that will wipe you out like wheat

attacked by grasshoppers.

So, go ahead and increase

like a swarm of locusts!

₁₆More merchants are in your city

than there are stars

in the sky—

but they are like locusts

that eat everything,

then fly away.

₁₇Your guards and your officials

are swarms of locusts.

On a chilly day

they settle on a fence,

but when the sun comes out,

they take off

to who-knows-where.

₁₈King of Assyria,

your officials and leaders

sleep the eternal sleep,

while your people are scattered

in the mountains.

Yes, your people are sheep

without a shepherd.

₁₉You're fatally wounded.

There's no hope for you.

But everyone claps

when they hear this news,

because your constant cruelty

has caused them pain.