 1 Behold, the Lord empties the land and makes it bare, and distorts its face, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 As it is with the people, so it will be with the priest. As with the servant, so with the master. As with the handmaid, so with her mistress. As with the buyer, so with the seller. As with the lender, so with the borrower. As with the creditor, so with the debtor. 3 The land shall be completely emptied, and utterly stripped. For the Lord has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and languishes. The world droops and languishes. The proud people of the earth droop. 5 The land is defiled under its people. Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and they who live in it are deserted. Therefore the people of the earth are burned, and few men left. 7 The new wine mourns, the vine droops, all the merry hearted sigh. 8 The gladness of tambourines ceases, the noise of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases. 9 They shall not drink wine with a song. Strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it. 10 The city of shame is broken down. Every house is shut up so that no one may come in. 11 A crying for wine is in the streets. All joy is darkened. The gladness in the land has gone. 12 The city is left desolate and the gate is stricken with ruin. 13 So it is in the midst of the land among the people, like the shaking of an olive tree and as gleanings when the grape harvest is completed. 14 They will lift up their voice and sing for the majesty of the Lord and cry aloud from the sea. 15 Therefore glorify the Lord in the flames, the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coasts of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we have heard songs, glory to the righteous. But I said, Leanness to me. Leanness to me. Woe to me. Deceivers deceive, even perfidy. Deceivers deceive. 17 Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you inhabitants of the earth. 18 Those who flee from the sound of dread will fall into the pit. And one who comes up out of the pit will be taken in the snare. For the windows from on high will open and the foundations of the earth will quake. 19 The earth is breaking, breaking. The earth is crashing, crashing. The earth is tottering, tottering. 20 Like a drunkard the earth is staggering, staggering. And it rocks to and fro like a tree hut. And its sins heavy on it. And it shall fall and not rise again. 21 In that day, the Lord shall punish the host of the high place on high, and on the kings of the earth on the earth. 22 They will be gathered like prisoners are gathered in a dungeon. They will be shut up in the prison and after many days they will be judged. 23 Then the moon will blush and the sun will be ashamed, when the Lord of hosts reigns in Mount Zion in Jerusalem and gloriously before His elders.
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