'Defenses' in the Bible

“Your memorable sayings are [worthless, merely] proverbs of ashes;Your defenses are defenses of [crumbling] clay.

O God, You have rejected us and cast us off. You have broken [down our defenses and scattered] us;You have been angry; O restore us and turn again to us.

The mighty warriors of Babylon have ceased to fight;They remain in their strongholds.Their strength and power have failed;They are becoming [weak and helpless] like women.Their dwelling places are set on fire;The bars on her gates are broken.

The sword will whirl against and fall on their cities,And will demolish the bars of their gates and fortificationsAnd will consume them because of their counsels.

Therefore, thus says the Lord God,“An adversary (Assyria), even one surrounding the land,Shall pull down your strength from youAnd your fortresses will be looted.”