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!
15. There the fire will consume you,the sword will cut you down;it will consume you like the grasshoppers.Multiply like the grasshoppers,multiply like the locusts!
16. You have made your traders more numerousthan the stars of the heavens;like grasshoppers that shed their skins and fly away.