23 “Mourn” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text vv. 12–13 are one long sentence.
24 Heb “indeed, over all the houses of joy.” It is not certain if this refers to individual homes or to places where parties and celebrations were held.
25 This same phrase is used in 22:2.
26 Or “noisy” (, , ).
27 Hebrew עֹפֶל (’ofel), probably refers here to a specific area within the city of Jerusalem. See II עֹפֶל.
28 The Hebrew text has בְעַד מְעָרוֹת (vé’ad mé’arot). The force of בְעַד, which usually means “behind, through, round about,” or “for the benefit of,” is uncertain here. *מְעָרָה takes מְעָרוֹת (mé’arot) as a homonym of “cave” and define it here as “cleared field.” Despite these lexical problems, the general point of the statement seems clear—the city will be uninhabited.
29 Heb “the joy of wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks.”
30 Heb “until a spirit is emptied out on us from on high.” The words “this desolation will continue” are supplied in the translation for clarification and stylistic purposes. The verb עָרָה (’arah), used here in the Niphal, normally means “lay bare, expose.” The term רוּחַ (ruakh, “spirit”) is often understood here as a reference to the divine spirit (cf. 44:3 and , , , ), but it appears here without an article (cf. “a spirit”), pronominal suffix, or a genitive (such as “of the Lord”). The translation assumes that it carries an impersonal nuance “vivacity, vigor” in this context.
31 The same statement appears in 29:17b, where, in conjunction with the preceding line, it appears to picture a reversal. Here it seems to depict supernatural growth. The desert will blossom into an orchard, and the trees of the orchard will multiply and grow tall, becoming a forest.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

for the soil of my people

growing up in thorns and briers,

yes, for all the joyous houses

in the exultant city.

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;

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

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,

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.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

for the ground of my people

growing thorns and briers,

indeed, for every joyous house in the jubilant city.

For the palace will be deserted,

the busy city abandoned.

The hill and the watchtower will become

barren places forever,

the joy of wild donkeys,

and a pasture for flocks,

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

Then the desert will become an orchard,

and the orchard will seem like a forest.

NLTNew Living Translation

For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers.

Your joyful homes and happy towns will be gone.

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

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

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.

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.

KJV 1900King James Version

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers;

Yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

Because the palaces shall be forsaken;

The multitude of the city shall be left;

The forts and towers shall be for dens for ever,

A joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high,

And the wilderness be a fruitful field,

And the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Public Domain