1Behold , Jehovah maketh the earth empty , and maketh it waste , and turneth it upside down , and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof . 2And 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 creditor , so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him . 3The earth shall be utterly emptied , and utterly laid waste ; for Jehovah hath spoken this word . 4The earth mourneth and fadeth away , the world languisheth and fadeth away , the lofty people of the earth do languish. 5The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof ; because they have transgressed the laws , violated the statutes , broken the everlasting covenant . 6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned , and few men left .
The Mourning of the Earth
7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh. 8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth , the noise of them that rejoice endeth , the joy of the harp ceaseth . 9They shall not drink wine with a song ; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it . 10The waste city is broken down ; every house is shut up , that no man may come in . 11There is a crying in the streets because of the wine ; all joy is darkened , the mirth of the land is gone . 12In the city is left desolation , and the gate is smitten with destruction .
The Remnant and Praise
13For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples , as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done . 14These shall lift up their voice , they shall shout ; for the majesty of Jehovah they cry aloud from the sea . 15Wherefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east , even the name of Jehovah , the God of Israel , in the isles of the sea . 16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs : Glory to the righteous . But I said , I pine away , I pine away , woe is me ! the treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
The Final Judgment
17Fear , and the pit , and the snare , are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. 18And it shall come to pass , that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit ; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare : for the windows on high are opened , and the foundations of the earth tremble . 19The earth is utterly broken , the earth is rent asunder , the earth is shaken violently . 20The earth shall stagger like a drunken man , and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it , and it shall fall , and not rise again . 21And it shall come to pass in that day , that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high , and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 22And they shall be gathered together , as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison ; and after many days shall they be visited . 23Then the moon shall be confounded , and the sun ashamed ; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion , and in Jerusalem ; and before his elders shall be glory .