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Nahum 2:2-4
New Catholic Bible
Nahum 2:2-4
New Catholic Bible
2 The Lord will restore the majesty of Jacob
as well as that of Israel,[a]
even though the plunderers have ravaged them
and destroyed their vines.
3 A destroying enemy is advancing against you;
guard the ramparts.
Keep watch on the road,
gird your loins,
and prepare to exert
every last ounce of courage.
The Agony of Nineveh[b]
Devastation, Plunder, and Destruction[c]
4 The shields of his warriors are red with blood;
their garments are scarlet in color.
The metal on the chariots flashes
as he summons them for battle;
the horses are frenzied in anticipation.
Footnotes
- Nahum 2:2 Restore the majesty of Jacob as well as that of Israel: Assyria had destroyed the northern kingdom and its people (2 Ki 17:3-6) and attacked the southern kingdom. Now is the time for all Israel to be renewed and restored!
- Nahum 2:4 Described by types of fire, the chastisement is at the doors of Nineveh. In these oracles there is the explosion of joy for the world which is awakening from a nightmare after a century of Assyrian domination.
- Nahum 2:4 This tableau of extraordinary power reaches fine art: it describes a decisive assault against a powerful village.
Nahum 2:2-4
English Standard Version
Nahum 2:2-4
English Standard Version
2 For (A)the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob
as the majesty of Israel,
for plunderers have plundered them
and (B)ruined their branches.
3 The shield of his mighty men is red;
(C)his soldiers are clothed in scarlet.
The chariots come with flashing metal
on the day he musters them;
the cypress spears are brandished.
4 (D)The chariots race madly through the streets;
they rush to and fro through the squares;
they gleam like torches;
they dart like lightning.
Nahum 2:2-4
New International Version
Nahum 2:2-4
New International Version
2 The Lord will restore(A) the splendor(B) 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.(C)
The metal on the chariots flashes
on the day they are made ready;
the spears of juniper are brandished.[a]
4 The chariots(D) storm through the streets,
rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
they dart about like lightning.
Footnotes
- Nahum 2:3 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac ready; / the horsemen rush to and fro.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.