< Nahum Propheta 2 >

1 ascendit qui dispergat coram te qui custodit obsidionem contemplare viam conforta lumbos robora virtutem valde
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
2 quia reddidit Dominus superbiam Iacob sicut superbiam Israhel quia vastatores dissipaverunt eos et propagines eorum corruperunt
For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine.
3 clypeus fortium eius ignitus viri exercitus in coccineis igneae habenae currus in die praeparationis eius et agitatores consopiti sunt
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
4 in itineribus conturbati sunt quadrigae conlisae sunt in plateis aspectus eorum quasi lampades quasi fulgura discurrentia
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
5 recordabitur fortium suorum ruent in itineribus suis velociter ascendent muros eius et praeparabitur umbraculum
He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.
6 portae fluviorum apertae sunt et templum ad solum dirutum
The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7 et miles captivus abductus est et ancillae eius minabantur gementes ut columbae murmurantes in cordibus suis
It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts.
8 et Nineve quasi piscina aquarum aquae eius ipsi vero fugerunt state state et non est qui revertatur
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
9 diripite argentum diripite aurum et non est finis divitiarum ex omnibus vasis desiderabilibus
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
10 dissipata et scissa et dilacerata et cor tabescens et dissolutio geniculorum et defectio in cunctis renibus et facies omnium sicut nigredo ollae
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
11 ubi est habitaculum leonum et pascua catulorum leonum ad quam ivit leo ut ingrederetur illuc catulus leonis et non est qui exterreat
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away?
12 leo cepit sufficienter catulis suis et necavit leaenis suis et implevit praeda speluncas suas et cubile suum rapina
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
13 ecce ego ad te dicit Dominus exercituum et succendam usque ad fumum quadrigas eius et leunculos tuos comedet gladius et exterminabo de terra praedam tuam et non audietur ultra vox nuntiorum tuorum
“Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

< Nahum Propheta 2 >