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13 He will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as the wilderness. 14 Herds will lie down in the middle of her, all the animals of the nations. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams. 15 This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss, and shake their fists.

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13 “And the Lord[a] will attack[b] the north, destroying Assyria.
    He will turn Nineveh into a desolate ruin,
        as dry as a desert wilderness.
14 Flocks will lie down in her midst,
    along with animals of every kind.
Desert owls and screeching owls will nest at the top of the pillars,
    hooting through the vacant[c] windows,
        ‘Ruin sits at these doorsills,’
for he will expose even the cedar framework.
15 This is that carefree city that lived irresponsibly,
    that told herself, ‘Me first!’[d]
        and, ‘There will be no one else!’
How ruined she has become—
    a habitat for wild animals!
Everyone who passes by her will sneer at her
    and make obscene gestures!”[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:13 Lit. And he
  2. Zephaniah 2:13 Lit. stretch out his hand toward
  3. Zephaniah 2:14 The Heb. lacks vacant
  4. Zephaniah 2:15 Lit. said in her heart, ‘I’
  5. Zephaniah 2:15 Lit. and wag his hand