Nahum · Chapter 2

[ edit] He ſtyede vp, þat ſchal ſcatere byfore þee, þat ſhal kepe þe byſeeging; byholde þou þe waye, coumforte leendis, ſtrengþe þou vertu gretely. For as þe Lord ȝeldide þe pride of Jacob, ſo þe pryde of Yrael; for diſtruyers ſcatriden hem, and corrumpten, or diſtruyiden, þe generaciouns of hem. Þe ſheeld of þe ſtrong of hym fijry, men of þe hooſt in rede cloþis; raynes of fijre of þe chaare, in þe day of his makyng redy; and þe leeders þerof ben aſleepe. In wayes þei ben trublid to gydre, cartis of foure horſis he hurtlide to gydre in ſtretis; þe ſiȝt of hem as laumpis, as leiȝtis rennynge aboute.

He ſhal byþenke of his ſtrenger, þei ſhulen falle in her wayes; and ſwyftly þei ſhuln ſtye vp þe wallis þerof, and þe ſhadewynge place ſhal be maad redy. Ȝatis of flodis ſhuln be opnyd, and þe temple broken doun to þe erþe. And a kniȝt caitif is led to, and þe hond maydens þerof ſhuln be dryuen ſorewyng as culuers, grucchynge in her hertis. And Nynyue, as þe cyſterne of waters þe waters þerof; forſoþe þei fledden, ſayinge, Stonde ȝe, ſtonde ȝe, and þer is not þat ſhal turne aȝein. Rauyſhe ȝe ſyluer, rauyſhe ȝe gold; and þere is not eende of richeſſis, of all deſireable veſſels.

It is diſtruyed, and kitt, and to-torne, and herte feylynge, and vnknyttynge of ſmale knees, and failyng in alle reynes; and þe face of alle as blacneſſe of a pott. Where is þe dwellynge of lyouns, and þe leſewis of whelpis of lyouns? Þe lyoun wente to water, þat þe whelpe of þe lyoun ſhulde entre þidre, and þere is not þat ſhal fere. Þe lyoun toke ynowȝ to his whelpis, and ſlewȝ to his lyounneſſis; and fulfillide wiþ praye her dennys, and his couche wiþ rauyn. Loo! Y to þee, ſaiþ þe Lord God of ooſtis; and Y ſhal vndre brenne þi cartis of foure horſis vn to þe heeȝiſt, and ſwerd ſhal ete þi ſmale lyouns; and Y ſhal diſtruye of erþe þi praye, and voice of þi meſſangeres ſhal no more be herd.