1. Look! The Lord will destroy the earth and leave it empty;he will ruin the surface of the land and scatter its people.
2. At that time the same thing will happen to everyone:to common people and priests,to slaves and masters,to women slaves and their women masters,to buyers and sellers,to those who borrow and those who lend,to bankers and those who owe the bank.
3. The earth will be completely empty.The wealth will all be taken,because the Lord has commanded it.
4. The earth will dry up and die;the world will grow weak and die;the great leaders in this land will become weak.
5. The people of the earth have ruined it,because they do not follow God’s teachingsor obey God’s lawsor keep their agreement with God that was to last forever.
6. So a curse will destroy the earth.The people of the world are guilty,so they will be burned up;only a few will be left.
7. The new wine will be bad, and the grapevines will die.People who were happy will be sad.
8. The happy music of the tambourines will end.The happy sounds of wild parties will stop.The joyful music from the harps will end.
9. People will no longer sing while they drink their wine.The beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.