2:1 He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
2:1 The one who scatters has come up against you. Man the fortress, watch the road; Strengthen your back, summon all [your] strength.

2:2 For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches.
2:2 For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob Like the splendor of Israel, Even though devastators have devastated them And destroyed their vine branches.

2:3 The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress (spears) are brandished.
2:3 The shields of his mighty men are [colored] red, The warriors are dressed in scarlet, The chariots are [enveloped] in flashing steel When he is prepared [to march], And the cypress [spears] are brandished.

2:4 The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings.
2:4 The chariots race madly in the streets, They rush wildly in the squares, Their appearance is like torches, They dash to and fro like lightning flashes.

2:5 He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.
2:5 He remembers his nobles; They stumble in their march, They hurry to her wall, And the mantelet is set up.

2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.
2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened, And the palace is dissolved.

2:7 And it is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating upon their breasts.
2:7 And it is fixed: She is stripped, she is carried away, And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves, Beating on their breasts.

2:8 But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, (they cry); but none looketh back.
2:8 Though Nineveh [was] like a pool of water throughout her days, Now they are fleeing; "Stop, stop," But no one turns back.

2:9 Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold; for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture.
2:9 Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! For there is no limit to the treasure-- Wealth from every kind of desirable object.

2:10 She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale.
2:10 She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and waste! Hearts are melting and knees knocking! Also anguish is in the whole body, And all their faces are grown pale!

2:11 Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion (and) the lioness walked, the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
2:11 Where is the den of the lions And the feeding place of the young lions, Where the lion, lioness, and lion's cub prowled, With nothing to disturb [them]?

2:12 The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin.
2:12 The lion tore enough for his cubs, Killed [enough] for his lionesses, And filled his lairs with prey And his dens with torn flesh.

2:13 Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.
2:13 "Behold, I am against you," declares the LORD of hosts. "I will burn up her chariots in smoke, a sword will devour your young lions, I will cut off your prey from the land, and no longer will the voice of your messengers be heard."