11 (A)But the hawk and the porcupine[a] shall possess it,
    the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.
(B)He shall stretch the line of (C)confusion[b] over it,
    and the plumb line of emptiness.
12 Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom,
    and all its princes shall be nothing.

13 (D)Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,
    nettles and thistles in its fortresses.
It shall be the haunt of (E)jackals,
    an abode for ostriches.[c]
14 (F)And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;
    the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;
indeed, there the night bird[d] settles
    and finds for herself a resting place.

15 There the owl nests and lays
    and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;
indeed, there (G)the hawks are gathered,
    each one with her mate.
16 Seek and read from the book of the Lord:
    Not one of these shall be missing;
    none shall be without her mate.
For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,
    and his Spirit has gathered them.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 34:11 The identity of the animals rendered hawk and porcupine is uncertain
  2. Isaiah 34:11 Hebrew formlessness
  3. Isaiah 34:13 Or owls
  4. Isaiah 34:14 Identity uncertain

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.

16 Look in the scroll(Q) of the Lord and read:

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  2. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.
  3. Isaiah 34:11 The precise identification of these birds is uncertain.