My sword(A) has drunk its fill in the heavens;
    see, it descends in judgment on Edom,(B)
    the people I have totally destroyed.(C)
The sword(D) of the Lord is bathed in blood,
    it is covered with fat—
the blood of lambs and goats,
    fat from the kidneys of rams.
For the Lord has a sacrifice(E) in Bozrah(F)
    and a great slaughter(G) in the land of Edom.
And the wild oxen(H) will fall with them,
    the bull calves and the great bulls.(I)
Their land will be drenched with blood,(J)
    and the dust will be soaked with fat.

For the Lord has a day(K) of vengeance,(L)
    a year of retribution,(M) to uphold Zion’s cause.
Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch,
    her dust into burning sulfur;(N)
    her land will become blazing pitch!
10 It will not be quenched(O) night or day;
    its smoke will rise forever.(P)
From generation to generation(Q) it will lie desolate;(R)
    no one will ever pass through it again.
11 The desert owl[a](S) and screech owl[b] will possess it;
    the great owl[c] and the raven(T) will nest there.
God will stretch out over Edom(U)
    the measuring line of chaos(V)
    and the plumb line(W) of desolation.
12 Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom,
    all her princes(X) will vanish(Y) away.
13 Thorns(Z) will overrun her citadels,
    nettles and brambles her strongholds.(AA)
She will become a haunt for jackals,(AB)
    a home for owls.(AC)
14 Desert creatures(AD) will meet with hyenas,(AE)
    and wild goats will bleat to each other;
there the night creatures(AF) 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;(AG)
there also the falcons(AH) will gather,
    each with its mate.

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

None of these will be missing,(AJ)
    not one will lack her mate.
For it is his mouth(AK) that has given the order,(AL)
    and his Spirit will gather them together.
17 He allots their portions;(AM)
    his hand distributes them by measure.
They will possess it forever
    and dwell there from generation to generation.(AN)

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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.

17 “Edom will become an object of horror;(A)
    all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff
    because of all its wounds.(B)
18 As Sodom(C) and Gomorrah(D) were overthrown,
    along with their neighboring towns,”
says the Lord,
“so no one will live there;
    no people will dwell(E) in it.

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14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal(A) to the Lord. For I am a great king,(B)” says the Lord Almighty,(C) “and my name is to be feared(D) among the nations.(E)

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If you do not listen,(A) and if you do not resolve to honor(B) my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse(C) on you, and I will curse your blessings.(D) Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.

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You are under a curse(A)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.

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He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children,(A) and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike(B) the land with total destruction.”(C)

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