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Isaiah 34

The lens widens from Judah's enemies to all nations: the earth and everything in it is summoned to hear (v.1). The LORD's rage dissolves the army of the sky, rolling it up like a scroll (v.4). Then the sword descends specifically on Edom, with a 'sacrifice in Bozrah' and slaughter that soaks the land's dust with fat. Watch Edom become a permanent ruin—streams turned to pitch, smoke rising forever (vv.9-10). The depopulated land fills instead with desert creatures: owl, raven, jackals, ostriches, each settling in by divine decree.

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Isaiah 34 (WEB)

1
Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear, the world, and everything that comes from it.
2
For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter.
3
Their slain will also be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies will come up. The mountains will melt in their blood.
4
All of the army of the sky will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its armies will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree.
5
For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment.
6
The LORD’s sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7
The wild oxen will come down with them, and the young bulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat.
8
For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.
9
Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulfur, and its land will become burning pitch.
10
It won’t be quenched night or day. Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it will lie waste. No one will pass through it forever and ever.
11
But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it. The owl and the raven will dwell in it. He will stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.
12
They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing.
13
Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
14
The wild animals of the desert will meet with the wolves, and the wild goat will cry to his fellow. Yes, the night creature shall settle there, and shall find herself a place of rest.
15
The arrow snake will make her nest there, and lay, hatch, and gather under her shade. Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate.
16
Search in the book of the LORD, and read: not one of these will be missing. None will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
17
He has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they will dwell in it.

Isaías 34 (RV1909)

1
GENTES, allegaos á oir; y escuchad, pueblos. Oiga la tierra y lo que la hinche, el mundo y todo lo que él produce.
2
Porque Jehová está airado sobre todas las gentes, é irritado sobre todo el ejército de ellas: destruirálas y entregarálas al matadero.
3
Y los muertos de ellas serán arrojados, y de sus cadáveres se levantará hedor; y los montes se desleirán por la sangre de ellos.
4
Y todo el ejército de los cielos se corromperá, y plegarse han los cielos como un libro: y caerá todo su ejército, como se cae la hoja de la parra, y como se cae la de la higuera.
5
Porque en los cielos se embriagará mi espada: he aquí que descenderá sobre Edom en juicio, y sobre el pueblo de mi anatema.
6
Llena está de sangre la espada de Jehová, engrasada está de grosura, de sangre de corderos y de cabritos, de grosura de riñones de carneros: porque Jehová tiene sacrificios en Bosra, y grande matanza en tierra de Edom.
7
Y con ellos vendrán abajo unicornios, y toros con becerros; y su tierra se embriagará de sangre, y su polvo se engrasará de grosura.
8
Porque es día de venganza de Jehová, año de retribuciones en el pleito de Sión.
9
Y sus arroyos se tornarán en pez, y su polvo en azufre, y su tierra en pez ardiente.
10
No se apagará de noche ni de día, perpetuamente subirá su humo: de generación en generación será asolada, nunca jamás pasará nadie por ella.
11
Y la poseerán el pelícano y el mochuelo, la lechuza y el cuervo morarán en ella: y extenderáse sobre ella cordel de destrucción, y niveles de asolamiento.
12
Llamarán á sus príncipes, príncipes sin reino: y todos sus grandes serán nada.
13
En sus alcázares crecerán espinas, y ortigas y cardos en sus fortalezas; y serán morada de chacales, patio para los pollos de los avestruces.
14
Y las bestias monteses se encontrarán con los gatos cervales, y el peludo gritará á su compañero: la lamia también tendrá allí asiento, y hallará para sí reposo.
15
Allí anidará el cuclillo, conservará sus huevos , y sacará sus pollos , y juntarálos debajo de sus alas: también se ayuntarán allí buitres, cada uno con su compañera.
16
Inquirid en el libro de Jehová, y leed si faltó alguno de ellos: ninguno faltó con su compañera; porque su boca mandó, y reuniólos su mismo espíritu.
17
Y él les echó las suertes, y su mano les repartió con cordel: para siempre la tendrán por heredad, de generación en generación morarán allí.

The book that names every creature

Verse 16 is the strange capstone: 'Search in the book of the LORD, and read'—not one of the listed animals will be missing, none will lack her mate. The grim inventory of birds and beasts nesting in Edom's rubble is presented as a written record to be checked against reality.

It seals the chapter's logic of measured judgment. God 'stretches the line of confusion' and 'casts the lot' (vv.11,17), distributing the ruined land to wild creatures as deliberately as territory was once apportioned to tribes. The desolation is not chaos but a verdict carried out to the letter.

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