Nahum 3

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, a lament] to the city [a place of human settlement, a metropolis] of blood [the liquid that flows through the body], full of lies [deception, falsehoods, hypocrisy], full of plunder [robbery, violent takeover, spoils of war], never [at no time, without end] without prey [victims, spoils, that which is torn apart]. word study 2 The crack [noise, sound] of the whip [lash, scourge], the rumble [quaking, shaking] of the wheel [chariot wheel], galloping [rushing, prancing] horse [war horse, swift steed] and bounding [leaping, jumping] chariot [war chariot, vehicle of war]! word study 3 Charging [mounted, horseback] horseman [cavalry soldier], flashing [glittering, shining] sword [cutting instrument], shining [glittering] spear [thrusting lance]; heaps [multitude, abundance] of slain [killed, wounded], mounds [piles] of corpses [carcasses], dead bodies [carcasses] without end [no end, endless]— they stumble [fall, trip] over their dead [corpses, bodies]— word study 4 because of the many [abundant, numerous] harlotries [fornications, idolatries] of the harlot [seductress, prostitute], the seductive [alluring, charming] mistress [female owner, sorceress] of sorcery [magic, witchcraft], who betrays [sells, deceives] nations [Gentiles, heathen] by her prostitution [fornication, whoredom] and clans [families, tribes] by her witchcraft [sorcery, enchantment]. word study 5 “Behold [look, take notice], I am against you [as your enemy],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. “I will lift your skirts [hem, the bottom edge of a robe] over your face [presence, being in front of someone]. I will show [reveal, uncover] your nakedness [exposed, vulnerable state] to the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people] and your shame [dishonor, feelings of guilt] to the kingdoms [dominions, territories]. word study 6 I will pelt [throw, cast] you with filth [abominable, disgusting things] and treat you with contempt [make vile, show disdain]; I will make a spectacle [a gazingstock, a sight] of you. word study 7 Then all [every single one] who see [look upon, gaze at] you will recoil [flee, turn away in horror] from you and say, ‘Nineveh is devastated [laid waste, ruined]; who [what person] will grieve [mourn, bemoan] for her?’ Where [from what place] can I find [seek, search for] comforters [those who bring solace, consolation] for you [to comfort you]?” word study 8 Are you better [more superior, more excellent] than Thebes [No, the ancient capital of Upper Egypt], stationed [situated, dwelling] by the Nile [the life-giving river] with water [the source of life, refreshment] around her, whose rampart [strong wall, fortress] was the sea [the vast ocean, the west], whose wall [barrier, protection] was the water [the liquid, the surrounding waters]? word study 9 Cush [Ethiopia, the region south of Egypt] and Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] were her boundless [infinite, without end] strength [powerfulness, numerousness]; Put [a son of Ham, a northern African region] and Libya [a land west of Egypt, inhabited by the Lubim] were her allies [helpers, assistants]. word study 10 Yet she became an exile [was carried away, went into banishment]; she went into captivity [as a prisoner, into bondage]. Her infants [young children, babies] were dashed to pieces [smashed, broken] at the head [top, beginning] of every street [outside, in the public squares]. They cast lots [threw small marked stones, made decisions by chance] for her dignitaries [honorable men, nobles], and all her nobles [great men, leaders] were bound in chains [fettered, tied with ropes]. word study 11 You too [also, even] will become drunk [intoxicated, overcome with wine]; you will go into hiding [conceal yourself, be hidden] and seek refuge [strength, a stronghold] from the enemy [adversary, one who opposes]. word study 12 All [every single one, everything] your fortresses [strong holds, fortified cities] are fig trees [like fig-trees, with fruit] with the first ripe figs [firstfruits, early harvest]; when [if] shaken [moved back and forth], they fall [are defeated, come down] into the mouth [lips, edge] of the eater [one who consumes, devourer]! word study 13 Look at your troops [like women, lacking strength]— they are [in the midst of you, among your people] like your women [females, wives]! The gates [entrances, doors] of your land [country, territory] are wide open [set wide open, thoroughly opened] to your enemies [adversaries, those who hate you]; fire [flame, divine judgment] consumes [eats, devours] their bars [bolts, locks]. word study 14 Draw your water [for the time of siege, to prepare for battle] for the siege [a time of attack, a place of entrenchment]; strengthen [to be strong, to seize or conquer] your fortresses [strong, fortified places, cities]. Work [go into, tread on] the clay [mud, a difficult situation] and tread [trample, walk on] the mortar [a mixture of mud and water]; repair [make strong, rebuild] the brick kiln [a place for making bricks, a furnace]! word study 15 There [in that place, at that time] the fire [burning, flame] will devour you; the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool of war] will cut you down and consume you like a young locust [a devouring insect]. Make yourself many like the young locust [a creature that multiplies rapidly]; make yourself many like the swarming locust [a large group of locusts, a plague]! word study 16 You have multiplied [increased, grown] your merchants [traders, businessmen] more than the stars [celestial bodies, heavenly hosts] of the sky [heaven, the universe]. The young locust [cankerworm, devouring insect] strips [removes, plunders] the land and flies [takes flight, flees] away. word study 17 Your guards [like princes or anointed ones] are like the swarming locust, and your scribes [officials or captains] like clouds of locusts [great grasshoppers] that settle [camp or encamp] on the walls [hedges or enclosures] on a cold day [a 24-hour period or a figurative space of time]. When the sun [the celestial body] rises [to shine or come up], they fly away [wander or flee], and no one knows [is not aware or does not ascertain] where [in what location]. word study 18 O king [ruler, monarch] of Assyria, your shepherds [leaders, caretakers] slumber [to fall into a light sleep, doze]; your officers [nobles, great men] sleep. Your people [nation, community] are scattered [spread out, dispersed] on the mountains [hills, high places] with no one [none, nothing] to gather [collect, assemble] them. word study 19 There is no [complete, lasting] healing for your injury [wound, hurt]; your wound [bruise, affliction] is severe [grievous, fatal]. All [every single one] who hear the news [report, sound] of you applaud [clap their hands, rejoice] your downfall [destruction, demise], for who [what person, no one] has not experienced [suffered, undergone] your constant [endless, continual] cruelty [wickedness, evil]? word study