[1] See, the Lord is making the earth waste and unpeopled, he is turning it
upside down, and sending the people in all directions. [2] And it will be
the same for the people as for the priest; for the servant as for his
master; and for the woman-servant as for her owner; the same for the one
offering goods for a price as for him who takes them; the same for him who
gives money at interest and for him who takes it; the same for him who lets
others have the use of his property as for those who make use of it. [3]
The earth will be completely waste and without men; for this is the word of
the Lord. [4] The earth is sorrowing and wasting away, the world is full of
grief and wasting away, the high ones of the earth come to nothing. [5] The
earth has been made unclean by those living in it; because the laws have
not been kept by them, the orders have been changed, and the eternal
agreement has been broken. [6] For this cause the earth is given up to the
curse, and those in it are judged as sinners: for this cause those living
on the earth are burned up, and the rest are small in number. [7] The new
wine is thin, the vine is feeble, and all the glad-hearted make sounds of
grief. [8] The pleasing sound of all instruments of music has come to an
end, and the voices of those who are glad. [9] There is no more drinking of
wine with a song; strong drink will be bitter to those who take it. [10]
The town is waste and broken down: every house is shut up, so that no man
may come in. [11] There is a crying in the streets because of the wine;
there is an end of all delight, the joy of the land is gone. [12] In the
town all is waste, and in the public place is destruction. [13] For it will
be in the heart of the earth among the peoples, like the shaking of an
olive-tree, as the last of the grapes after the getting-in is done. [14]
But those will be making sounds of joy; they will be crying loudly from the
sea for the glory of the Lord. [15] Give praise to the Lord in the east, to
the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, in the sea-lands. [16] From the
farthest part of the earth comes the sound of songs, glory to the upright.
But I said, I am wasting away, wasting away, the curse is on me! The false
ones go on in their false way, yes, they go on acting falsely. [17] Fear,
and death, and the net, are come on you, O people of the earth. [18] And it
will be that he who goes in flight from the sound of fear will be overtaken
by death; and he who gets free from death will be taken in the net: for the
windows on high are open, and the bases of the earth are shaking. [19] The
earth is completely broken, it is parted in two, it is violently moved.
[20] The earth will be moving uncertainly, like a man overcome by drink; it
will be shaking like a tent; and the weight of its sin will be on it,
crushing it down so that it will not get up again. [21] And in that day the
Lord will send punishment on the army of the high ones on high, and on the
kings of the earth on the earth. [22] And they will be got together, like
prisoners in the prison-house; and after a long time they will have their
punishment. [23] Then the moon will be veiled, and the sun put to shame;
for the Lord of armies will be ruling in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and
before his judges he will let his glory be seen.
