Translations
Modern
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.
Traditional
Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
Literal
Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; your nobles are at rest; your people are scattered on the mountains, and no one is gathering them.
Latin
Dormitaverunt pastores tui, rex Assur, sepelientur principes tui: latitavit populus tuus in montibus, et non est qui congreget.
Original
Hebrew
English
O king of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your officers sleep. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.
Notes
shepherds: With the leaders gone, Nineveh’s people would scatter like sheep.
sleep (see John 11:11–14): Assyria’s leaders, asleep during Nineveh’s crisis, would sleep in death. In contrast, Israel’s Protector does not slumber (Psalm 121:3), and he will gather Israel’s lost sheep (Jeremiah 23:3; Ezekiel 36:35).
Events
- Prophecies of Nahumc. 663 BC
Places
Assyria: A powerful ancient empire, often in conflict with Israel