13 He will stretch out his hand against the north

and destroy Assyria,

leaving Nineveh utterly desolate

and dry as the desert.

14 Flocks and herds will lie down there,

creatures of every kind.

The desert owl and the screech owl

will roost on her columns.

Their hooting will echo through the windows,

rubble will fill the doorways,

the beams of cedar will be exposed.

15 This is the city of revelry

that lived in safety.

She said to herself,

“I am the one! And there is none besides me.”

What a ruin she has become,

a lair for wild beasts!

All who pass by her scoff

and shake their fists.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; And will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. 14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: Both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; Their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: For he shall uncover the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, That said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: How is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

13 And the Lord will strike the lands of the north with his fist,

destroying the land of Assyria.

He will make its great capital, Nineveh, a desolate wasteland,

parched like a desert.

14 The proud city will become a pasture for flocks and herds,

and all sorts of wild animals will settle there.

The desert owl and screech owl will roost on its ruined columns,

their calls echoing through the gaping windows.

Rubble will block all the doorways,

and the cedar paneling will be exposed to the weather.

15 This is the boisterous city,

once so secure.

“I am the greatest!” it boasted.

“No other city can compare with me!”

But now, look how it has become an utter ruin,

a haven for wild animals.

Everyone passing by will laugh in derision

and shake a defiant fist.

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north,

Destroy Assyria,

And make Nineveh a desolation,

As dry as the wilderness.

14 The herds shall lie down in her midst,

Every beast of the nation.

Both the pelican and the bittern

Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars;

Their voice shall sing in the windows;

Desolation shall be at the threshold;

For He will lay bare the cedar work.

15 This is the rejoicing city

That dwelt securely,

That said in her heart,

“I am it, and there is none besides me.”

How has she become a desolation,

A place for beasts to lie down!

Everyone who passes by her

Shall hiss and shake his fist.

13 Then the Lord will turn against the north

and destroy Assyria.

He will make Nineveh

a ruin as dry as a desert.

14 Flocks and herds will lie down there,

and all wild animals.

The owls and crows will sit

on the stone pillars.

The owl will hoot through the windows,

trash will be in the doorways,

and the wooden boards of the buildings will be gone.

15 This is the happy and safe city

that thinks there is no one else as strong as it is.

But what a ruin it will be,

a place where wild animals live.

All those who pass by will make fun

and shake their fists.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness. 14 And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work. 15 This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, a place of drought like the wilderness. 14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the crowd of beasts; both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; a voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be on the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.

13 The Lord will use his power against the north and destroy Assyria. 

He will turn Nineveh into a deserted ruin, 

a dried up wasteland like the desert. 

14 Flocks will lie down in it along with animals of every kind. 

Even pelicans and herons will nest on top of its columns. 

Listen! A bird will sing in a window. 

The doorway will be in ruins, 

because the Lord will expose the cedar beams. 

15 Is this the arrogant city? 

Is this the city that used to live securely, 

the city that used to think to itself, 

“I’m the only one, and no one else exists but me”? 

What a wasteland it is now, a resting place for wild animals! 

All who pass by it will hiss and make an obscene gesture. 

13 He will also stretch out His hand against the north

and destroy Assyria;

He will make Nineveh a desolate ruin,

dry as the desert.

14 Herds will lie down in the middle of it,

every kind of wild animal.

Both the desert owl and the screech owl

will roost in the capitals of its pillars.

Their calls will sound from the window,

but devastation will be on the threshold,

for He will expose the cedar work.

15 This is the self-assured city

that lives in security,

that thinks to herself:

I exist, and there is no one else.

What a desolation she has become,

a place for wild animals to lie down!

Everyone who passes by her

jeers and shakes his fist.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north,

and destroy Assyria;

and he will make Nineveh a desolation,

a dry waste like the desert.

14 Herds shall lie down in it,

every wild animal;

the desert owl and the screech owl

shall lodge on its capitals;

the owl shall hoot at the window,

the raven croak on the threshold;

for its cedar work will be laid bare.

15 Is this the exultant city

that lived secure,

that said to itself,

“I am, and there is no one else”?

What a desolation it has become,

a lair for wild animals!

Everyone who passes by it

hisses and shakes the fist.

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north,

and he will destroy Assyria

and will make Nineveh a desolation,

a dry wasteland like the desert.

14 Herds shall lie down in her midst,

every wild animal of a nation;

even the desert owl and the screech owl

shall lodge on her capitals.

A voice shall hoot in the window;

rubble on the threshold;

for the cedar is laid bare.

15 This is the city of rejoicing

that lived securely;

the one saying in her heart,

“I am, and there is none besides me.”

How she has become a desolation,

a lair for wild animals!

Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

13 The Lord will reach out his powerful hand against the north.

He will destroy Assyria.

He’ll leave Nineveh totally empty.

It will be as dry as a desert.

14 Flocks and herds will lie down there.

So will creatures of every kind.

Desert owls and screech owls

will rest on its pillars.

Their cries will echo through the windows.

The doorways will be full of trash.

The cedar beams will be showing.

15 Nineveh is a carefree city.

It lived in safety.

It said to itself,

“I am like a god.

No one is greater than I am.”

But it has been destroyed.

Wild animals make their home there.

All those who pass by laugh

and shake their fists at it.

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north

And destroy Assyria,

And He will make Nineveh a desolation,

Parched like the wilderness.

14 Flocks will lie down in her midst,

All beasts which range in herds;

Both the pelican and the hedgehog

Will lodge in the tops of her pillars;

Birds will sing in the window,

Desolation will be on the threshold;

For He has laid bare the cedar work.

15 This is the exultant city

Which dwells securely,

Who says in her heart,

“I am, and there is no one besides me.”

How she has become a desolation,

A resting place for beasts!

Everyone who passes by her will hiss

And wave his hand in contempt.