Zephaniah 2:15

Pride

¹³ And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.

¹⁴ Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.
KJV: This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
WEB: This is the joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in! Everyone who passes by her will hiss and shake their fists.
ASV: This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
DARBY: This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.
BLB: This [is] the jubilant city the one dwelling in security, saying in her heart, “I [am], and ceases to be another!” How she has become as a desolation, a resting place for the beast! Everyone passing by her will hiss and shake his fist.

ÅB: Dette er den jublende stad, som bodde så trygt, som sa i sitt hjerte: Jeg og ingen annen! Hvor den er blitt til en ørken, et leie for ville dyr! Hver den som går forbi, blåser av den og rister hånlig sin hånd.
OTB: Dette er den selvsikre byen
Som bor trygt,
Som sier i sitt hjerte,
“Jeg er, og det er ingen ved siden av meg.”
Hvordan har hun blitt en ødemark,
Et hvilested for dyr!
Alle som går forbi henne skal plystre
Og vifte med hånden i forakt.
B1930: Dette er den jublende stad, som bodde så trygt, som sa i sitt hjerte: Jeg og ingen annen! Hvor den er blitt til en ørken, et leie for ville dyr! Hver den som går forbi, blåser av den og ryster hånlig sin hånd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 28:2
“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god.
Read in context
Isaiah 47:7–8
You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.
Read in context
Nahum 3:19
There is no healing for your injury; your wound is severe. All who hear the news of you applaud your downfall, for who has not experienced your constant cruelty?
Read in context
Ezekiel 28:9
Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you.
Read in context
Isaiah 22:2
O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle.
Read in context
Jeremiah 19:8
I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds.
Read in context
Lamentations 1:1
How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave.
Read in context
Lamentations 2:15
All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”
Read in context