1
Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants.
2
And it shall be: As with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, 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 entirely emptied and utterly plundered, For the Lord has spoken this word.
4
The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish.
5
The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant.
6
Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, And those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, And few men are left.
7
The new wine fails, the vine languishes, All the merry-hearted sigh.
8
The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases.
9
They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10
The city of confusion is broken down; Every house is shut up, so that none may go in.
11
There is a cry for wine in the streets, All joy is darkened, The mirth of the land is gone.
12
In the city desolation is left, And the gate is stricken with destruction.
13
When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, It shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, Like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done.