'Desolation' in the Bible

“Furthermore, their wealth will become plunderAnd their houses a desolation.Yes, they will build houses but not live in them,And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”

For [this is the fate of the Philistines:] Gaza will be abandonedAnd Ashkelon a desolation;[The people of] Ashdod will be driven out at noon [in broad daylight]And Ekron will be uprooted and destroyed.

“Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts,The God of Israel,“Moab will in fact become like SodomAnd the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah,A land possessed by nettles and salt pits,And a perpetual desolation.The remnant of My people will plunder themAnd what is left of My nation will inherit them [as their own].”

And the Lord will stretch out His hand against the northAnd destroy Assyria,And He will make Nineveh a desolation [a wasteland],Parched as the desert.

Flocks will lie down in her midst,All the animals which range in herds;Both the pelican and the short-eared owlWill roost on the top of Nineveh’s pillars.Birds will sing in the window,Desolation will be on the threshold;For He has uncovered the cedar paneling.

This is the joyous cityWhich dwells carelessly [feeling so secure],Who says in her heart,“I am, and there is no one besides me.”What a desolation she has become,A lair for [wild] animals!Everyone who passes by her will hiss [in scorn]And wave his hand in contempt.