Howlongis the landto mournAnd the vegetationof the countrysideto wither?For the wickednessof those who dwellin it, Animalsand birdshave been snatchedaway,Because[men] have said,"He will not seeour latterending."
A fruitfullandinto a saltwaste,Becauseof the wickednessof those who dwellin it.
"Thesethingsyou have doneand I keptsilence;You thoughtthat I was just likeyou; I will reproveyou and state[the case] in orderbefore your eyes.
The earthmourns[and] withers,the worldfades[and] withers,the exaltedof the peopleof the earthfadeaway.
Therefore,a cursedevoursthe earth,and those who livein it are heldguilty.Therefore,the inhabitantsof the earthare burned,and fewmenare left.
"It has been madea desolation,Desolate,it mournsbeforeMe; The wholelandhas been madedesolate,Becausenomanlaysit to heart.
"JudahmournsAnd her gateslanguish;They siton the groundin mourning,And the cryof Jerusalemhas ascended.
For the landis fullof adulterers;For the landmournsbecauseof the curse.The pasturesof the wildernesshave driedup. Their coursealso is evilAnd their mightis not right.
I looked,and behold,therewas noman,And allthe birdsof the heavenshad fled.
"For thisthe earthshall mournAnd the heavensabovebe dark,BecauseI have spoken,I have purposed,And I will not changeMy mind,norwill I turnfrom it."
"The prophetsare [as] wind,And the wordis not in them. Thusit will be doneto them!"
The prophetsprophesyfalsely,And the priestsruleon their [own] authority;And My peopleloveit so!But whatwill you doat the endof it?
Thereforethussaysthe LordGOD,"Behold,My angerand My wrathwill be pouredout on thisplace,on manand on beastand on the treesof the fieldand on the fruitof the ground;and it will burnand not be quenched."
"For the mountainsI will takeup a weepingand wailing,And for the pasturesof the wildernessa dirge,Becausethey are laidwastesothat noonepassesthrough,And the lowingof the cattleis not heard;Boththe birdsof the skyand the beastshave fled;they are gone.
"Shall I not punishthem for thesethings?"declaresthe LORD."On a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
Thereforethe landmourns,And everyonewho livesin it languishesAlong with the beastsof the fieldand the birdsof the sky,And alsothe fishof the seadisappear.
Howthe beastsgroan!The herdsof cattlewanderaimlesslyBecausethereis nopasturefor them; Eventhe flocksof sheepsuffer.
He said,"The LORDroarsfrom ZionAnd from JerusalemHe uttersHis voice;And the shepherds'pasturegroundsmourn,And the summitof Carmeldriesup."
Thoughthe figtreeshould not blossomAnd therebe nofruiton the vines,[Though] the yieldof the oliveshould failAnd the fieldsproducenofood,Though the flockshould be cutofffrom the foldAnd therebe nocattlein the stalls,
Then the angelof the LORDsaid,"O LORDof hosts,howlongwill You havenocompassionfor Jerusalemand the citiesof Judah,with whichYou have beenindignanttheseseventyyears?"
For we knowthat the wholecreationgroansand suffers the pains of childbirthtogetheruntilnow.
