1. Now the Lord makes the earth empty,and makes it waste,and turns it upside down,and scatters its inhabitants abroad.
2. 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 utterly emptied,and utterly despoiled,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 also is defiled by its inhabitantsbecause they have transgressed the laws,violated the ordinances,broken the everlasting covenant.
6. Therefore, the curse devours the earth,and those who dwell in it are held guilty.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 joy of tambourines ceases,the noise of those who rejoice ends,the joy of the harp ceases.
9. They shall not drink wine with song;strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it.