21. How long must I see the battle standardand hear the sound of the trumpet?
22. ‘My people are fools;they do not know me.They are senseless children;they have no understanding.They are skilled in doing evil;they know not how to do good.’
23. I looked at the earth,and it was formless and empty;and at the heavens,and their light was gone.
24. I looked at the mountains,and they were quaking;all the hills were swaying.
25. I looked, and there were no people;every bird in the sky had flown away.
26. I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;all its towns lay in ruinsbefore the Lord, before his fierce anger.
27. This is what the Lord says:‘The whole land will be ruined,though I will not destroy it completely.
28. Therefore the earth will mournand the heavens above grow dark,because I have spoken and will not relent,I have decided and will not turn back.’
29. At the sound of horsemen and archersevery town takes to flight.Some go into the thickets;some climb up among the rocks.All the towns are deserted;no one lives in them.