1 Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it
upside down, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 It
will 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 creditor, so with the debtor; as with the
taker of interest, so with the giver of interest. 3 The earth will
be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away.
The lofty people of the earth languish. 5 The earth also is polluted
under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore
the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty.
Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. 7 The
new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh. 8 The
mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of
the harp ceases. 9 They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink
will be bitter to those who drink it. 10 The confused city is broken down.
Every house is shut up, that no man may come in. 11 There is a crying in
the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land
is gone. 12 The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with
destruction. 13 For it will be so in the midst of the earth among the
peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage
is done. 14 These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the
majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea. 15 Therefore glorify
Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands
of the sea! 16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs.
Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The
treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very
treacherously. 17 Fear, the pit, and the snare, are on you who inhabitant
the earth. 18 It will happen that he who flees from the
noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the
midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are
opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. 19 The earth is utterly
broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently. 20 The
earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a
hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall
and not rise again. 21 It shall happen in that day that Yahweh will
punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the
earth. 22 They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in
the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they
be visited. 23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for
Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his
elders will be glory.
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