21 Come up hath a scatterer to thy face, Keep the bulwark, watch the way, Strengthen the loins, strengthen power mightily. 2 For turned back hath Jehovah to the excellency of Jacob, As 'to' the excellency of Israel, For emptied them out have emptiers, And their branches they have marred. 3 The shield of his mighty ones is become red, Men of might 'are in' scarlet, With fiery torches 'is' the chariot in a day of his preparation, And the firs have been caused to tremble. 4 In out-places shine do the chariots, They go to and fro in broad places, Their appearances 'are' like torches, As lightnings they run. 5 He doth remember his honourable ones, They stumble in their goings, They hasten 'to' its wall, and prepared is the covering. 6 Gates of the rivers have been opened, And the palace is dissolved. 7 And it is established—she hath removed, She hath been brought up, And her handmaids are leading as the voice of doves, Tabering on their hearts. 8 And Nineveh 'is' as a pool of waters, From of old it 'is'—and they are fleeing! 'Stand ye, stand;' and none is turning! 9 Seize ye silver, seize ye gold, And there is no end to the prepared things, 'To' the abundance of all desirable vessels. 10 She is empty, yea, emptiness and waste, And the heart hath melted, And the knees have smitten together, And great pain 'is' in all loins, And the faces of all of them have gathered paleness.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nahum 2:1-10

Commentary on Nahum 2:1-10

(Read Nahum 2:1-10)

Nineveh shall not put aside this judgment; there is no counsel or strength against the Lord. God looks upon proud cities, and brings them down. Particular account is given of the terrors wherein the invading enemy shall appear against Nineveh. The empire of Assyria is represented as a queen, about to be led captive to Babylon. Guilt in the conscience fills men with terror in an evil day; and what will treasures or glory do for us in times of distress, or in the day of wrath? Yet for such things how many lose their souls!