23
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled , and all the hills moved lightly .
25
I beheld , and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled .
26
I beheld , and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierceanger.
27
For thus hath the LORDsaid , The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28
For this shall the earthmourn , and the heavensabove be black : because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent , neither will I turn back from it.
29
The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen* ; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken , and not a mandwelltherein.
30
And when thou art spoiled , what wilt thou do ? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair ; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
31
For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail , and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child , the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers .