2. Whips crack! Wheels clack! Horses charge! Chariots rumble!
3. Horsemen attack! Swords flash! Spears gleam! Many people die. Dead bodies pile up. They can't even be counted. People trip over them.
4. All of that was caused by the evil longings of the prostitute Nineveh. That woman who practiced evil magic was very beautiful. She used her sinful charms to make slaves out of the nations. She worshiped evil powers in order to trap others.
5. "Nineveh, I am against you," announces the Lord who rules over all. "I will pull your skirts up over your face. I will show the nations your naked body. Kingdoms will make fun of your shame.
6. I will throw garbage at you. I will look down on you. I will make an example out of you.
7. All those who see you will run away from you. They will say, 'Nineveh is destroyed. Who will sob over it?' Where can I find someone to comfort your people?"
8. Nineveh, are you better than Thebes on the Nile River? There was water all around that city. The river helped to keep it safe. The waters were like a wall around it.
9. Cush and Egypt gave it all of the strength it needed. Put and Libya also helped it.
10. But Thebes was captured anyway. Its people were taken away as prisoners. Its babies were smashed to pieces at every street corner. The Assyrian soldiers cast lots for all of its great leaders. They put them in chains and made slaves out of them.
11. People of Nineveh, you too will get drunk. You will try to hide from your enemies. You will look for a place of safety.