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.

Read full chapter

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

Bible Gateway Recommends