1
Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants of it.
2
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.
3
The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
4
The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.
5
The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants of it; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.
6
Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
7
The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted do sigh.
8
The mirth of tambourines ceases, the noise of those who rejoice ends, the joy of the harp ceases.
9
They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to those who drink it.
10
The waste city is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11
There is a crying in the streets because of the wine; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
12
In the city is left desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.