23. I looked at the earth—it was waste and void;at the heavens—their light had gone out!
24. I looked at the mountains—they were quaking!All the hills were crumbling!
25. I looked—there was no one;even the birds of the air had flown away!
26. I looked—the garden land was a wilderness,with all its cities destroyedbefore the Lord, before his blazing anger.
27. For thus says the Lord:The whole earth shall be waste,but I will not wholly destroy it.
28. Because of this the earth shall mourn,the heavens above shall darken;I have spoken, I will not change my mind,I have decided, I will not turn back.
29. At the shout of rider and archereach city takes to flight;They shrink into the thickets,they scale the rocks:All the cities are abandoned,no one lives in them.
30. You now who are doomed, what are you doingdressing in purple,bedecking yourself with gold,Enlarging your eyes with kohl?You beautify yourself in vain!Your lovers reject you,they seek your life.
31. Yes, I hear the cry, like that of a woman in labor,like the anguish of a mother bearing her first child—The cry of daughter Zion gasping,as she stretches out her hands:“Ah, woe is me! I sink exhaustedbefore my killers!”