13 Your army is weak.Fire has destroyed the crossbarson your city gates;now they stand wide opento your enemy.
14 Your city is under attack.Haul in extra water!Strengthen your defences!Start making bricks!Stir the mortar!
15 You will still go up in flamesand be cut down by swordsthat will wipe you out like wheatattacked by grasshoppers.So, go ahead and increaselike a swarm of locusts!
16 More merchants are in your citythan there are starsin the sky—but they are like locuststhat eat everything,then fly away.
17 Your guards and your officialsare swarms of locusts.On a chilly daythey settle on a fence,but when the sun comes out,they take offto who-knows-where.
18 King of Assyria,your officials and leaderssleep the eternal sleep,while your people are scatteredin the mountains.Yes, your people are sheepwithout a shepherd.
19 You're fatally wounded.There's no hope for you.But everyone clapswhen they hear this news,because your constant crueltyhas caused them pain.