When ¹  the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, “Why this waste?

It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.

to satisfy a devastated and desolate land, and to cause it to sprout with vegetation? ¹ 

For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his home.

I am like an owl ¹  in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl ²  among the ruins. ³ 

and a fruitful land into a barren place, ¹  because of the sin of its inhabitants.

It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations ¹  and their lands.

Your children hurry back, while those who destroyed and devastated you depart.

I will lay your cities waste ¹  and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will refuse to smell your soothing aromas.

Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him; they raise their voices in triumph. ¹  They have laid his land waste; his cities have been burned down and deserted. ² 

Wail, you large ships, ¹  for your fortress is destroyed!

Here is a message about Moab: Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Ar of Moab is destroyed! Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Kir of Moab is destroyed!

He deprives the leaders of the earth ¹  of their understanding; ²  he makes them wander in a trackless desert waste. ³ 

gaunt ¹  with want and hunger, they would gnaw ²  the parched land, in former time desolate and waste. ³ 

I will make the trees on the mountains and hills wither up; ¹  I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn streams into islands, ²  and dry up pools of water. ³ 

Pack your bags for exile, you inhabitants of poor dear Egypt. ¹  For Memphis will be laid waste. It will lie in ruins ²  and be uninhabited.

The inhabited towns will be left in ruins and the land will be devastated. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

He broke down ¹  their strongholds ²  and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.

They ¹  have destroyed our ²  vines; ³  they have turned our ⁴  fig trees into mere splinters. They have completely stripped off the bark ⁵  and thrown them aside; the ⁶  twigs are stripped bare. ⁷ 

In all your dwellings, the cities will be laid waste and the high places ruined so that your altars will be laid waste and ruined, your idols will be shattered and demolished, your incense altars will be broken down, and your works wiped out. ¹