Nahum 3:1-11

Doomed is the city of bloodshed, embodiment of treachery and thievery, where the murdering never stops! Listen to the crack of the whip, the rumble of the chariot wheels, the thunder of horses’ hooves, and charging chariots. Horsemen advancing, gleaming swords and glistening spears, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies, too many to count. People stumble over the carcasses. This is because you lustfully lured the nations like a wanton whore. You acted so gracefully, yet you are a mistress of witchcraft. You sold entire nations into the sex trade and bewitched whole families into slavery. Behold, YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, declares to you: “I am your enemy! I will lift up your skirt over your face, and I will make nations gawk at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will pelt you with filth and make you an object of scorn and will treat you with contempt. And all who look at you will turn their backs on you and say, ‘Poor Nineveh is a pile of rubble; who will grieve for you? Who will have sympathy for you?’ ” Are you any better than Thebes, which once sat by the Nile surrounded by water, her moat of defense, a mighty river? Ethiopia and Egypt were her endless strength; Somalia and Libya were her helpful allies. Yet the people of Thebes became exiles and were carried off into captivity. Their infants were dashed to pieces on every street corner. They cast lots for her honored men— all the best and brightest were bound in chains and taken captive. You will fall into a drunken stupor. You will go into hiding and seek refuge from the enemy.