1. The Lord is going to twist the earth out of shape and turn it into a desert. Everyone will be scattered,
2. including ordinary people and priests, slaves and slave owners, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, the rich and the poor.
3. The earth will be stripped bare and left that way. This is what the Lord has promised.
4. The earth wilts away;its mighty leaders meltto nothing.
5. The earth is pollutedbecause its peopledisobeyed the laws of God,breaking their agreementthat was to last for ever.
6. The earth is under a curse;its people are dying outbecause of their sins.
7. Grapevines have dried up:wine is almost gone—mournful sounds are heardinstead of joyful shouts.
8. No one plays tambourinesor stringed instruments;all noisy celebratinghas come to an end.
9. They no longer singas they drink their wine,and it tastes sour.