23. I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone.
24. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.
25. I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away.
26. I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.
27. This is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely.
28. Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.”
29. At the sound of horsemen and archers every town takes to flight. Some go into the thickets; some climb up among the rocks. All the towns are deserted; no one lives in them.