13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north
    (A)and destroy Assyria,
and he (B)will make Nineveh a desolation,
    a dry waste like the desert.
14 (C)Herds shall lie down in her midst,
    all kinds of beasts;[a]
(D)even the owl and the hedgehog[b]
    shall lodge in her capitals;
a voice shall hoot in the window;
    devastation will be on the threshold;
    for (E)her cedar work will be laid bare.
15 This is the exultant city
    (F)that lived securely,
that said in her heart,
    “I am, and there is no one else.”
What a desolation she has become,
    (G)a lair for wild beasts!
(H)Everyone who passes by her
    hisses and (I)shakes his fist.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation
  2. Zephaniah 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain

13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north,
    and destroy Assyria;
and he will make Nin′eveh a desolation,
    a dry waste like the desert.
14 Herds shall lie down in the midst of her,
    all the beasts of the field;[a]
the vulture[b] and the hedgehog
    shall lodge in her capitals;
the owl[c] shall hoot in the window,
    the raven[d] croak on the threshold;
    for her cedar work will be laid bare.
15 This is the exultant city
    that dwelt secure,
that said to herself,
    “I am and there is none else.”
What a desolation she has become,
    a lair for wild beasts!
Every one who passes by her
    hisses and shakes his fist.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:14 Tg Compare Gk: Heb nation
  2. Zephaniah 2:14 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  3. Zephaniah 2:14 Cn: Heb a voice
  4. Zephaniah 2:14 Gk Vg: Heb desolation