¹⁰ The fortified city stands desolate,^(A)
    an abandoned settlement, forsaken^(B) like the wilderness;
there the calves graze,^(C)
    there they lie down;^(D)
    they strip its branches bare.

¹² The city is left in ruins,^(A)
    its gate^(B) is battered to pieces.

¹⁰ The ruined city^(A) lies desolate;^(B)
    the entrance to every house is barred.

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a](A)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,^(B)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.^(C)
3 For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.^(D)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,^(E)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich^(F) from her excessive luxuries.”^(G)

¹¹ The desert owl^[a](A) and screech owl^[b] will possess it;
    the great owl^[c] and the raven^(B) will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom^(C)
    the measuring line of chaos^(D)
    and the plumb line^(E) of desolation.
¹² Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
    all her princes^(F) will vanish^(G) away.
¹³ Thorns^(H) will overrun her citadels,
    nettles and brambles her strongholds.^(I)
She will become a haunt for jackals,^(J)
    a home for owls.^(K)
14 Desert creatures^(L) will meet with hyenas,^(M)
    and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures^(N) will also lie down
    and find for themselves places of rest.
¹⁵ The owl will nest there and lay eggs,
    she will hatch them, and care for her young
    under the shadow of her wings;^(O)
there also the falcons^(P) will gather,
    each with its mate.

None of these will be missing,^(R)
    not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth^(S) that has given the order,^(T)
    and his Spirit will gather them together.
¹⁷ He allots their portions;^(U)
    his hand distributes them by measure.
They will possess it forever
    and dwell there from generation to generation.^(V)