13 and for the land of my people,

a land overgrown with thorns and briers—

yes, mourn for all houses of merriment

and for this city of revelry.

14 The fortress will be abandoned,

the noisy city deserted;

citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,

the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

15 till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,

and the desert becomes a fertile field,

and the fertile field seems like a forest.

13 for the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers,

yes, for all the joyous houses

in the exultant city.

14 For the palace is forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

a joy of wild donkeys,

a pasture of flocks;

15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

13 For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers.

Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.

14 The palace and the city will be deserted,

and busy towns will be empty.

Wild donkeys will frolic and flocks will graze

in the empty forts and watchtowers

15 until at last the Spirit is poured out

on us from heaven.

Then the wilderness will become a fertile field,

and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.

13 On the land of my people will come up thorns and briers,

Yes, on all the happy homes in the joyous city;

14 Because the palaces will be forsaken,

The bustling city will be deserted.

The forts and towers will become lairs forever,

A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—

15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,

And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.

13 Cry for the land of my people,

in which only thorns and weeds now grow.

Cry for the city that once was happy

and for all the houses that once were filled with joy.

14 The palace will be empty;

people will leave the noisy city.

Strong cities and towers will be empty.

Wild donkeys will love to live there, and sheep will go there to eat.

15 This will continue until God pours his Spirit from above upon us.

Then the desert will be like a fertile field

and the fertile field like a forest.

13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city. 14 For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest.

13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thistles and briars, yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city. 14 For the palace shall be deserted, the multitude of the city shall be forsaken; hill and watchtower shall be caves for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

13 Mourn for my people’s land where thorns and briars will grow. 

Mourn for all the happy homes in a joyful city. 

14 Palaces will be deserted. 

Noisy cities will be abandoned. 

Fortresses and watchtowers will become permanent caves. 

They will be a delight for wild donkeys and pastures for flocks 

15 until the Spirit is poured on us from on high. 

Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field, 

and the fertile field will be considered a forest. 

13 for the ground of my people

growing thorns and briers,

indeed, for every joyous house in the joyful city.

14 For the palace will be forsaken,

the busy city abandoned.

The hill and the watchtower will become

barren places forever,

the joy of wild donkeys,

and a pasture for flocks,

15 until the Spirit from heaven is poured out on us.

Then the desert will become an orchard,

and the orchard will seem like a forest.

13 for the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers;

yes, for all the joyous houses

in the jubilant city.

14 For the palace will be forsaken,

the populous city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower

will become dens forever,

the joy of wild asses,

a pasture for flocks;

15 until a spirit from on high is poured out on us,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

13 over the soil of my people.

It goes up in thorns and briers,

indeed over all of the houses of joy in the jubilant city.

14 For the palace will be forsaken,

the crowded city deserted;

the hill and the watchtower will become a cave forever,

the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks.

15 Until a spirit is poured out on us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is reckoned as the forest.

13 My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes.

Sob over all of the houses that were once filled with joy.

Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.

14 The royal palace will be left empty.

The noisy city will be deserted.

The fort and lookout tower will become

a dry and empty desert forever.

Donkeys will enjoy being there.

Flocks will eat there.

15 That will continue until the Holy Spirit

is poured out on us from heaven.

Then the desert will be turned into rich farm lands.

The rich farm lands will seem like a forest.

13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up;

Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city.

14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken.

Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever,

A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks;

15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high,

And the wilderness becomes a fertile field,

And the fertile field is considered as a forest.