23 I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty.(A)
I looked to the heavens,
and their light was gone.(B)
24 I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;(C)
all the hills shook.
25 I looked, and there was no human being,(D)
and all the birds of the sky had fled.(E)
26 I looked, and the fertile field(F) was a wilderness.(G)
All its cities were torn down
because of the Lord
and his burning anger.(H)

27 For this is what the Lord says:

“The whole land will be a desolation,(I)
but I will not finish it off.(J)
28 Because of this, the earth will mourn;(K)
the skies above will grow dark.(L)
I have spoken; I have planned,
and I will not relent or turn back from it.”(M)

29 Every city flees(N)
at the sound of the horseman and the archer.
They enter the thickets
and climb among the rocks.(O)
Every city is abandoned;
no inhabitant is left.

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