5. He remembers his officers; they stumble as they go,they hasten to the wall;the siege tower is set up.
6. The river gates are opened;the palace melts away;
7. its mistress is stripped; she is carried off,her slave girls lamenting,moaning like dovesand beating their breasts.
8. Nineveh is like a poolwhose waters run away.“Halt! Halt!” they cry,but none turns back.
9. Plunder the silver,plunder the gold!There is no end of the treasureor of the wealth of all precious things.
10. Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!
11. Where is the lions’ den,the feeding place of the young lions,where the lion and lioness went,where his cubs were, with none to disturb?
12. The lion tore enough for his cubsand strangled prey for his lionesses;he filled his caves with preyand his dens with torn flesh.
13. Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.