⁷ The Lord is good,^(X)
    a refuge in times of trouble.^(Y)
He cares for^(Z) those who trust in him,^(AA)
8     but with an overwhelming flood^(AB)
he will make an end of Nineveh;
    he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness.

⁹ Whatever they plot^(AC) against the Lord
    he will bring^[a] to an end;
    trouble will not come a second time.
¹⁰ They will be entangled among thorns^(AD)
    and drunk^(AE) from their wine;
    they will be consumed like dry stubble.^[b](AF)
11 From you, Nineveh, has one come forth
    who plots evil against the Lord
    and devises wicked plans.

“Although they have allies and are numerous,
    they will be destroyed^(AG) and pass away.
Although I have afflicted you, Judah,
    I will afflict you no more.^(AH)
13 Now I will break their yoke^(AI) from your neck
    and tear your shackles away.”^(AJ)

¹⁴ The Lord has given a command concerning you, Nineveh:
    “You will have no descendants to bear your name.^(AK)
I will destroy the images^(AL) and idols
    that are in the temple of your gods.
I will prepare your grave,^(AM)
    for you are vile.”

¹⁵ Look, there on the mountains,
    the feet of one who brings good news,^(AN)
    who proclaims peace!^(AO)
Celebrate your festivals,^(AP) Judah,
    and fulfill your vows.
No more will the wicked invade you;^(AQ)
    they will be completely destroyed.^[c]

² The Lord will restore^(B) the splendor^(C) of Jacob
    like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
    and have ruined their vines.

³ The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.^(D)
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.^[b]
4 The chariots^(E) storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

⁵ Nineveh summons her picked troops,
    yet they stumble^(F) on their way.
They dash to the city wall;
    the protective shield is put in place.
⁶ The river gates^(G) are thrown open
    and the palace collapses.
⁷ It is decreed^[c] that Nineveh
    be exiled and carried away.
Her female slaves moan^(H) like doves
    and beat on their breasts.^(I)
8 Nineveh is like a pool
    whose water is draining away.
“Stop! Stop!” they cry,
    but no one turns back.
⁹ Plunder the silver!
    Plunder the gold!
The supply is endless,
    the wealth from all its treasures!
¹⁰ She is pillaged, plundered, stripped!
    Hearts melt,^(J) knees give way,
    bodies tremble, every face grows pale.^(K)

¹¹ Where now is the lions’ den,^(L)
    the place where they fed their young,
where the lion and lioness went,
    and the cubs, with nothing to fear?
¹² The lion killed^(M) enough for his cubs
    and strangled the prey for his mate,
filling his lairs^(N) with the kill
    and his dens with the prey.^(O)

¹³ “I am against^(P) you,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will burn up your chariots in smoke,^(Q)
    and the sword^(R) will devour your young lions.
    I will leave you no prey on the earth.
The voices of your messengers
    will no longer be heard.”^(S)

“When I destroy all mankind
    on the face of the earth,”^(F)
declares the Lord,^(G)
4 “I will stretch out my hand^(H) against Judah
    and against all who live in Jerusalem.
I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place,^(I)
    the very names of the idolatrous priests^(J)—
⁵ those who bow down on the roofs
    to worship the starry host,^(K)
those who bow down and swear by the Lord
    and who also swear by Molek,^[b](L)
6 those who turn back from following^(M) the Lord
    and neither seek^(N) the Lord nor inquire^(O) of him.”

⁷ Be silent^(P) before the Sovereign Lord,
    for the day of the Lord^(Q) is near.
The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;^(R)
    he has consecrated those he has invited.

⁸ “On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice
    I will punish^(S) the officials
    and the king’s sons^(T)
and all those clad
    in foreign clothes.
⁹ On that day I will punish
    all who avoid stepping on the threshold,^[c](U)
who fill the temple of their gods
    with violence and deceit.^(V)

¹⁰ “On that day,^(W)”
    declares the Lord,
“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,^(X)
    wailing^(Y) from the New Quarter,
    and a loud crash from the hills.
¹¹ Wail,^(Z) you who live in the market district^[d];
    all your merchants will be wiped out,
    all who trade with^[e] silver will be destroyed.^(AA)
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps
    and punish those who are complacent,^(AB)
    who are like wine left on its dregs,^(AC)
who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing,^(AD)
    either good or bad.’^(AE)
13 Their wealth will be plundered,^(AF)
    their houses demolished.
Though they build houses,
    they will not live in them;
though they plant vineyards,
    they will not drink the wine.”^(AG)

¹⁴ The great day of the Lord^(AH) is near^(AI)—
    near and coming quickly.
The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter;
    the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry.
¹⁵ That day will be a day of wrath—
    a day of distress and anguish,
        a day of trouble and ruin,
    a day of darkness^(AJ) and gloom,
        a day of clouds and blackness^(AK)—
¹⁶     a day of trumpet and battle cry^(AL)
against the fortified cities
    and against the corner towers.^(AM)

¹⁷ “I will bring such distress^(AN) on all people
    that they will grope about like those who are blind,^(AO)
    because they have sinned against the Lord.
Their blood will be poured out^(AP) like dust
    and their entrails like dung.^(AQ)
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
    will be able to save them
    on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”^(AR)

In the fire of his jealousy^(AS)
    the whole earth will be consumed,^(AT)
for he will make a sudden end
    of all who live on the earth.^(AU)

¹⁰ This is what they will get in return for their pride,^(AC)
    for insulting^(AD) and mocking
    the people of the Lord Almighty.^(AE)
11 The Lord will be awesome^(AF) to them
    when he destroys all the gods^(AG) of the earth.^(AH)
Distant nations will bow down to him,^(AI)
    all of them in their own lands.

¹⁴ Sing, Daughter Zion;^(AR)
    shout aloud,^(AS) Israel!
Be glad and rejoice^(AT) with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
¹⁵ The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;^(AU)
    never again will you fear^(AV) any harm.^(AW)
16 On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.^(AX)
17 The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.^(AY)
He will take great delight^(AZ) in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,^(BA)
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”^(BB)

¹⁸ “I will remove from you
    all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals,
    which is a burden and reproach for you.
¹⁹ At that time I will deal
    with all who oppressed^(BC) you.
I will rescue the lame;
    I will gather the exiles.^(BD)
I will give them praise^(BE) and honor
    in every land where they have suffered shame.
²⁰ At that time I will gather you;
    at that time I will bring^(BF) you home.
I will give you honor^(BG) and praise^(BH)
    among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes^[e](BI)
    before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.