Jeremiah 50:39–42

39 “So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,

and there the owl will dwell.

It will never again be inhabited

or lived in from generation to generation.

40 As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah

along with their neighboring towns,”

declares the Lord,

“so no one will live there;

no people will dwell in it.

41 “Look! An army is coming from the north;

a great nation and many kings

are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.

42 They are armed with bows and spears;

they are cruel and without mercy.

They sound like the roaring sea

as they ride on their horses;

they come like men in battle formation

to attack you, Daughter Babylon.

39 “Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the Lord, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.

41 “Behold, a people comes from the north;

a mighty nation and many kings

are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.

42 They lay hold of bow and spear;

they are cruel and have no mercy.

The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea;

they ride on horses,

arrayed as a man for battle

against you, O daughter of Babylon!

39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert

With the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there,

And the owls shall dwell therein:

And it shall be no more inhabited for ever;

Neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah

And the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord;

So shall no man abide there,

Neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north,

And a great nation, and many kings

Shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance:

They are cruel, and will not shew mercy:

Their voice shall roar like the sea,

And they shall ride upon horses,

Every one put in array, like a man to the battle,

Against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

39 “Soon Babylon will be inhabited by desert animals and hyenas.

It will be a home for owls.

Never again will people live there;

it will lie desolate forever.

40 I will destroy it as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah

and their neighboring towns,” says the Lord.

“No one will live there;

no one will inhabit it.

41 “Look! A great army is coming from the north.

A great nation and many kings

are rising against you from far-off lands.

42 They are armed with bows and spears.

They are cruel and show no mercy.

As they ride forward on horses,

they sound like a roaring sea.

They are coming in battle formation,

planning to destroy you, Babylon.

39 “Desert animals and hyenas will live there,

and owls will live there,

but no people will ever live there again.

She will never be filled with people again.

40 God completely destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah

and the towns around them,” says the Lord.

“In the same way no people will live in Babylon,

and no human being will stay there.

41 “Look! An army is coming from the north.

A powerful nation and many kings

are coming together from all around the world.

42 Their armies have bows and spears.

The soldiers are cruel and have no mercy.

As the soldiers come riding on their horses,

the sound is loud like the roaring sea.

They stand in their places, ready for battle.

They are ready to attack you, city of Babylon.

39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith Jehovah, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.

41 Behold, a people cometh from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 42 They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

39 Therefore wild beasts of the desert with jackals shall dwell there, and ostriches shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbour cities, saith Jehovah, no one shall dwell there, neither shall a son of man sojourn therein. 41 Behold, a people cometh from the north, and a great nation. And many kings shall arise from the uttermost parts of the earth. 42 They lay hold of bow and spear; they are cruel, and will not shew mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses—set in array like a man for the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.

39 That is why desert animals will live with hyenas. 

Desert owls will also live there. 

It will no longer be inhabited or lived in for generations. 

40 Babylon will be like Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighboring cities 

when I, God, destroyed them. 

No one will live there. 

No human will stay there,” declares the Lord. 

41 “People are going to come from the north. 

A great nation and many kings will rise from the ends of the earth. 

42 They will take hold of bows and spears. 

They will be cruel and have no compassion. 

They will sound like the sea when it roars. 

They will ride horses. 

They are ready for war, ready to attack you, people of Babylon. 

39 Therefore, desert creatures will live with hyenas,

and ostriches will also live in her.

It will never again be inhabited

or lived in through all generations.

40 Just as God demolished Sodom and Gomorrah

and their neighboring towns —

this is the Lord’s declaration—

so no one will live there;

no human being will even stay in it

as a temporary resident.

41 Look! A people comes from the north.

A great nation and many kings will be stirred up

from the remote regions of the earth.

42 They grasp bow and javelin.

They are cruel and show no mercy.

Their voice roars like the sea,

and they ride on horses,

lined up like men in battle formation

against you, Daughter Babylon.

39 Therefore wild animals shall live with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall inhabit her; she shall never again be peopled or inhabited for all generations. 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors, says the Lord, so no one shall live there, nor shall anyone settle in her.

41 Look, a people is coming from the north;

a mighty nation and many kings

are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.

42 They wield bow and spear;

they are cruel and have no mercy.

The sound of them is like the roaring sea;

they ride upon horses,

set in array as a warrior for battle,

against you, O daughter Babylon!

39 Therefore desert creatures will live there with jackals,

and daughters of ostriches will inhabit her.

And she will not be inhabited again forever,

and she will not be dwelt in for all generations.

40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah

and their neighbors,” declares Yahweh,

“no one will live there,

and the son of humankind will not dwell as an alien in her.

41 Look, a people is about to come

from the north,

and a great nation and many kings are woken up

from the remotest part of the earth.

42 They keep hold of bow and short sword.

They are cruel and they have no mercy.

Their sound is like the sea, it roars,

and upon horses they ride.

Drawn up for battle as a man for the battle,

against you, O daughter of Babylon.

39 “Desert creatures and hyenas will live in Babylon.

And so will owls.

People will never live there again.

It will not be lived in for all time to come.

40 I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

I also destroyed the towns that were near them,”

announces the Lord.

“Babylonia will be just like them.

No one will live there.

No one will stay there even for a short time.

41 “Look! An army is coming from the north.

I am stirring up a great nation and many kings.

They are coming from a land that is very far away.

42 Their soldiers are armed with bows and spears.

They are mean.

They do not show any mercy at all.

They come riding in on their horses.

They sound like the roaring ocean.

They are lined up for battle.

They are coming to attack you, city of Babylon.

39 “Therefore the desert creatures will live there along with the jackals;

The ostriches also will live in it,

And it will never again be inhabited

Or dwelt in from generation to generation.

40 “As when God overthrew Sodom

And Gomorrah with its neighbors,” declares the Lord,

“No man will live there,

Nor will any son of man reside in it.

41 “Behold, a people is coming from the north,

And a great nation and many kings

Will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth.

42 “They seize their bow and javelin;

They are cruel and have no mercy.

Their voice roars like the sea;

And they ride on horses,

Marshalled like a man for the battle

Against you, O daughter of Babylon.