² Her towns will be deserted forever;^[a]
    they will be places for flocks,
    which will lie down, and no one will make them afraid.^(A)

¹⁴ Herds shall lie down in it,
    every wild animal of the earth;^[a]
the desert owl^[b] and the screech owl^[c]
    shall lodge on its capitals;
the owl^[d] shall hoot at the window,
    the raven^[e] croak on the threshold,
    for its cedar work will be laid bare.^(A)
15 Is this the exultant city
    that lived secure,
that said to itself,
    “I am, and there is no one else”?
What a desolation it has become,
    a lair for wild animals!
Everyone who passes by it
    hisses and shakes the fist.^(B)

⁸ Then they shall know that I am the Lord,
    when I have set fire to Egypt,
    and all who help it are broken.^(A)

⁶     and its daughter towns inland
    shall be killed by the sword.