23. I looked at the earth—it was waste and void;at the heavens—their light had gone out!
24. I looked at the mountains—they were quaking!All the hills were crumbling!
25. I looked—there was no one;even the birds of the air had flown away!
26. I looked—the garden land was a wilderness,with all its cities destroyedbefore the Lord, before his blazing anger.
27. For thus says the Lord:The whole earth shall be waste,but I will not wholly destroy it.
28. Because of this the earth shall mourn,the heavens above shall darken;I have spoken, I will not change my mind,I have decided, I will not turn back.
29. At the shout of rider and archereach city takes to flight;They shrink into the thickets,they scale the rocks:All the cities are abandoned,no one lives in them.