¹⁹ Babylon,^(A) the jewel of kingdoms,^(B)
    the pride and glory^(C) of the Babylonians,^[a]
will be overthrown^(D) by God
    like Sodom and Gomorrah.^(E)
20 She will never be inhabited^(F)
    or lived in through all generations;
there no nomads^(G) will pitch their tents,
    there no shepherds will rest their flocks.
²¹ But desert creatures^(H) will lie there,
    jackals^(I) will fill her houses;
there the owls^(J) will dwell,
    and there the wild goats^(K) will leap about.
²² Hyenas^(L) will inhabit her strongholds,^(M)
    jackals^(N) her luxurious palaces.
Her time is at hand,^(O)
    and her days will not be prolonged.^(P)

²² “I will rise up^(A) against them,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“I will wipe out Babylon’s name^(B) and survivors,
    her offspring and descendants,^(C)”
declares the Lord.
²³ “I will turn her into a place for owls^(D)
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,^(E)”
    declares the Lord Almighty.^(F)

³ A nation from the north^(A) will attack her
    and lay waste her land.
No one will live^(B) in it;
    both people and animals^(C) will flee away.

¹³ Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.^(A)
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;^(B)
    they will scoff^(C) because of all her wounds.^(D)