Isaiah 32:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks;

NIV: The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

NASB: For the palace has been neglected, the populated city abandoned. Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever, A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

CSB: For the palace will be deserted, the busy city abandoned. The hill and the watchtower will become barren places forever, the joy of wild donkeys, and a pasture for flocks,

NLT: The palace and the city will be deserted, and busy towns will be empty. Wild donkeys will frolic and flocks will graze in the empty forts and watchtowers

KJV: Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

NKJV: Because the palaces will be forsaken, The bustling city will be deserted. The forts and towers will become lairs forever, A joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks—

Isaiah 32:9–20 is addressed to the wealthy, complacent women of Judah. Isaiah warns them that in a little over a year they will be trembling and shuddering. The harvests will be lost, along with the parties to celebrate them. The women should begin to mourn now for the lost fields and vines, for the empty palace and abandoned city. Eventually, though, the Lord's Spirit will be poured out on Israel. Abundant crops and righteousness will return to the land, bringing peace, security, and trust in the Lord. Judgment will come, but so will restoration.

Isaiah describes a future with a better king and kingdom for Israel. That king will rule with righteousness and justice. He and his princes will be protective and helpful to the people. The people will be more attentive to the Lord's will. The foolish and evil will no longer be celebrated. Isaiah tells the wealthy, complacent women of Judah that in about a year they will be shuddering and trembling. The harvests will be lost. They should mourn now for the ruined fields. The palace and city will be abandoned, but eventually the Lord's Spirit will be poured over Israel, returning abundance to the land.

Isaiah 30 and 31 declared "woe" on Judah for relying on Egypt for protection. Chapter 32 describes a future king and kingdom for Israel in which righteousness and justice will be normal. Isaiah tells the complacent women of Judah to begin to mourn for what will be lost in just over a year: no crops, no parties, the palace empty, and the city abandoned. Eventually, though, abundance, peace, and security will return to the land. The next chapter warns Judah's deceivers and reassures the faithful.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).