31:10 “‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because it was tall in stature, and its top reached into the clouds, and it was proud of its height, 31:11 I gave it over to the leader of the nations. He has judged it thoroughly, 1 as its sinfulness deserves. I have thrown it out. 31:12 Foreigners from the most terrifying nations have cut it down and left it to lie there on the mountains. In all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs lie broken in the ravines of the land. All the peoples of the land 2 have departed 3 from its shade and left it. 31:13 On its ruins all the birds of the sky will live, and all the wild animals 4 will walk 5 on its branches. 31:14 For this reason no watered trees will grow so tall; their tops will not reach into the clouds, nor will the well-watered ones grow that high. 6 For all of them have been appointed to die in the lower parts of the earth; 7 they will be among mere mortals, 8 with those who descend to the pit.
1 tn Heb “acting he has acted with regard to it.” The infinitive absolute precedes the main verb to emphasize the certainty and decisiveness of the action depicted.
2 tn Or “earth” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
3 tn Heb “gone down.”
4 tn Heb “the beasts of the field,” referring to wild as opposed to domesticated animals.
5 tn Heb “be.”
6 tn Heb “and they will not stand to them in their height, all the drinkers of water.”
7 tn Heb “for death, to the lower earth.”
8 tn Heb “the sons of men.”