1
Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants.
2
And 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 lender, so with the borrower; As with the creditor, so with the debtor.
3
The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, For the Lord has spoken this word.
4
The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish.
5
The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant.
6
Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, And those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, And few men are left.
7
The new wine fails, the vine languishes, All the merry-hearted sigh.
8
The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases.
9
They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10
The city of confusion is broken down; Every house is shut up, so that none may go in.