The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, ¹  as when a sick man’s life ebbs away. ² 

“So now, our God – the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity ¹  – do not regard as inconsequential ²  all the hardship that has befallen us – our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people – from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!

Look at the land of the Chaldeans, these people who have lost their identity! ¹  The Assyrians have made it a home for wild animals. They erected their siege towers, ²  demolished ³  its fortresses, and turned it into a heap of ruins. ⁴ 

Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. ¹  How long will Asshur take you away captive?”

Haran, Kanneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad were your clients.

And now, ¹  I will break Assyria’s ²  yoke bar ³  from your neck; ⁴  I will tear apart the shackles ⁵  that are on you.” ⁶ 

Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; ¹  a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. ²  They will run away from this sword ³  and their young men will be forced to do hard labor.

Indeed, ¹  he says: “Are not my officials all kings?

The oracle against Nineveh; ¹  the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: ² 

Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, ¹  and will afflict Asshur, ²  and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever.” ³ 

But he does not agree with this, his mind does not reason this way, ¹  for his goal is to destroy, and to eliminate many nations. ² 

At that time ¹  the Lord will remove their burden from your shoulders, ²  and their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be taken off because your neck will be too large. ³ 

I will break Assyria ¹  in my land, I will trample them ²  underfoot on my hills. Their yoke will be removed from my people, the burden will be lifted from their shoulders. ³ 

Make this announcement in ¹  the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: “Gather on the hills around Samaria! ²  Observe the many acts of violence ³  taking place within the city, ⁴  the oppressive deeds ⁵  occurring in it.” ⁶ 

Then he uttered this oracle: “O, who will survive when God does this! ¹ 

Is not Calneh like Carchemish? Hamath like Arpad? Samaria like Damascus? ¹ 

¹ They ²  attacked ³  Aiath, moved through Migron, depositing their supplies at Micmash.

This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; my hand is ready to strike all the nations.” ¹ 

Here is a message about Damascus: “Look, Damascus is no longer a city, it is a heap of ruins!

The Elamites picked up the quiver, and came with chariots and horsemen; ¹  the men of Kir ²  prepared ³  the shield. ⁴