29
As in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree,
30
or 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
And the earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be for briers, 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 helpers.
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Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine.
35
Listen now to these things, and understand them, O servants of the Lord.
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Behold the word of the Lord, receive it; do not disbelieve what the Lord says.
37
Behold, the calamities draw near, and are not delayed.
38
Just as a woman with child, in the ninth month, when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains about her womb for two or three hours beforehand, and 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 forth upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side.