Set in order the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.

Why have I seen them dismayed and turned back? And their mighty ones are beaten down and have fled for refuge, and they do not look back. Terror is all around, says Jehovah.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.

Suffer evil, O people, and be broken! Give ear, all you from distant lands. Gird yourselves and be broken. Gird yourselves and be broken!

Take counsel and make plans, but they will be frustrated. Speak a word, but it shall not stand; for the Mighty God is with us.

Lift up a banner on the bare mountain, raise the voice to them; wave the hand, so that they may enter the gates of the nobles.

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of My people and My possession, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; and divided up My land.

Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate a war; wake up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.

Assemble yourselves and come, all you nations; and gather yourselves together all around. O Jehovah, bring down Your mighty ones.

Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down, for the press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.

The one scattering is coming up against your face. Guard the rampart; watch the way; make the loins strong, firm up your power exceedingly.

Draw your water for the siege. Strengthen your fortifications. Go into the clay and tread in the mortar. Make the mold strong.

Fire will devour you there. The sword shall cut you off. It will eat you up like the caterpillar. Make yourself as many as the caterpillar; multiply yourself like the locusts.

And it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and arose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.

Polish the arrows; gather the shields. Jehovah has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of His temple.

And the land shall tremble and writhe. For every purpose of Jehovah shall be fulfilled against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a waste without inhabitant.

Jehovah has done what He had purposed; He has fulfilled His Word which He commanded in the days of old. He has thrown down and not pitied. And He has caused your enemy to rejoice over you; He has set up the horn of your foes.