14. Demand a fast,request a special assembly.Gather the eldersand all the land’s peopleto the temple of the Lord your God,and cry out to the Lord.
15. What a terrible day!The day of the Lord is near;it comes like chaos from the Almighty.
16. Isn’t the food cut offright before our eyes?Aren’t joy and gladness also gone from our God’s house?
17. The grain shrivels under the shovels;the barns are empty.The granaries are in ruinbecause the grain has dried up.
18. How the animals groan!Herds of cattle are in distressbecause there is no pasture for them;even the flocks of sheep pant.
19. To you, Lord, I cry,for fire has completely destroyedthe pastures of the wilderness;and flames have burnedall the trees of the field.
20. Even the field’s wild animals cry to youbecause the streams have dried up;the fire has completely destroyedthe meadows of the wilderness.