29
Just as in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree,
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or just as, when a vineyard is gathered, some clusters may be left by those who search carefully through the vineyard,
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so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their houses with the sword.
32
The earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be plowed up, and its roads and all its paths shall bring forth thorns, because no sheep will go along them.
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Virgins shall mourn because they have no bridegrooms; women shall mourn because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, because they have no help.
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Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
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Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord.
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This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says.
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The calamities draw near, and are not delayed.
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Just as a pregnant woman, in the ninth month when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains around her womb for two or three hours beforehand, but when the child comes forth from the womb, there will not be a moment's delay,
39
so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.