1. Ah! The bloody city,all lies,Full of plunder,whose looting never stops!
2. The crack of the whip,the rumbling of wheels;Horses galloping,chariots bounding,
3. Cavalry charging,the flash of the sword,the gleam of the spear;A multitude of slain,a mass of corpses,Endless bodiesto stumble upon!
4. For the many debaucheries of the prostitute,a charming mistress of witchcraft,Who enslaved nations with her prostitution,and peoples by her witchcraft:
5. I now come against you—oracle of the Lord of hosts—and I will lift your skirt above your face;I will show your nakedness to the nations,to the kingdoms your shame!
6. I will cast filth upon you,disgrace you and make you a spectacle;
7. Until everyone who sees youruns from you saying,“Nineveh is destroyed;who can pity her?Where can I findany to console you?”
8. Are you better than No-amon that was set among the Nile’s canals,Surrounded by waters,with the river for her rampartand water for her wall?
9. Ethiopia was her strength,and Egypt without end;Put and the Libyanswere her allies.
10. Yet even she became an exile,and went into captivity;Even her little ones were dashed to piecesat the corner of every street;For her nobles they cast lots,and all her great ones were put into chains.
11. You, too, will drink of this;you will be overcome;You, too, will seeka refuge from the foe.
12. But all your fortresses are fig trees,bearing early figs;When shaken, they fallinto the devourer’s mouth.
13. Indeed your troopsare women in your midst;To your foes are open widethe gates of your land,fire has consumed their bars.
14. Draw water for the siege,strengthen your fortresses;Go down into the mudand tread the clay,take hold of the brick mold!