17Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them,
         Who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold.

18And their bows will mow down the young men,
         They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb,
         Nor will their eye pity children.

19And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride,
         Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

20It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation;
         Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there,
         Nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.

21But desert creatures will lie down there,
         And their houses will be full of owls;
         Ostriches also will live there, and shaggy goats will frolic there.

22Hyenas will howl in their fortified towers
         And jackals in their luxurious palaces.
         Her fateful time also will soon come
         And her days will not be prolonged.

NASB ©1995