A fireconsumesbeforethem And behindthem a flameburns.The landis like the gardenof Edenbeforethem But a desolatewildernessbehindthem, And nothingat allescapesthem.
Lotliftedup his eyesand sawallthe valleyof the Jordan,that it was wellwateredeverywhere--[this was] beforethe LORDdestroyedSodomand Gomorrah--like the gardenof the LORD,like the landof Egyptas you goto Zoar.
The LORDGodplanteda gardentowardthe east,in Eden;and thereHe placedthe manwhomHe had formed.
May our Godcomeand not keepsilence;FiredevoursbeforeHim, And it is verytempestuousaroundHim.
FiregoesbeforeHim And burnsup His adversariesroundabout.
For they coveredthe surfaceof the wholeland,so that the landwas darkened;and they ateeveryplantof the landand allthe fruitof the treesthat the hailhad left.Thus nothinggreenwas lefton treeor plantof the fieldthrough allthe landof Egypt.
They shall coverthe surfaceof the land,so that noone will be ableto seethe land.They will also eatthe restof whathas escaped--what is leftto you from the hail--and they will eateverytreewhich sproutsfor you out of the field.
Who madethe worldlike a wildernessAnd overthrewits cities,Who did not allowhis prisonersto [go] home?'
For the watersof Nimrimare desolate.Surelythe grassis withered,the tendergrassdiedout, There is nogreenthing.
Your spoilis gathered[as] the caterpillargathers;As locustsrushingaboutmen rushabouton it.
Indeed,the LORDwill comfortZion;He will comfortallher wasteplaces.And her wildernessHe will makelike Eden,And her desertlike the gardenof the LORD;Joyand gladnesswill be foundin her, Thanksgivingand soundof a melody.
For wickednessburnslike a fire;It consumesbriarsand thorns;It even setsthe thicketsof the forestaflameAnd they rollupwardin a columnof smoke.
By the furyof the LORDof hoststhe landis burnedup, And the peopleare like fuelfor the fire;Nomanspareshis brother.
"They will devouryour harvestand your food;They will devouryour sonsand your daughters;They will devouryour flocksand your herds;They will devouryour vinesand your figtrees;They will demolishwith the swordyour fortifiedcitiesin whichyou trust.
"They will say,'Thisdesolatelandhas becomelike the gardenof Eden;and the waste,desolateand ruinedcitiesare fortified[and] inhabited.'
Thusthe LordGODshowedme, and behold,the LordGODwas callingto contend[with them] by fire,and it consumedthe greatdeepand began to consumethe farmland.
"For behold,I am raisingup the Chaldeans,That fierceand impetuouspeopleWho marchthroughoutthe earthTo seizedwellingplaceswhich are not theirs.
"but I scatteredthem with a stormwindamongallthe nationswhomthey have not known.Thus the landis desolatedbehindthem sothat noone wentbackand forth,for they madethe pleasantlanddesolate."
