Chapter 24 - The Earth
1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker (of usury), so with the giver (of usury) to him.
3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.
4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people (of the earth) do languish.
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants (of the earth) are burned, and few men left.
7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry hearted do sigh.
8 The mirth (of tabrets) ceaseth, the noise (of them) that rejoice endeth, the joy (of the harp) ceaseth.
9 They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
10 The city (of confusion) is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth (of the land) is gone.
12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
13 When thus it shall be in the midst (of the land) among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.
14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty (of the LORD), they shall cry aloud from the sea.
15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name (of the LORD, God of Israel) in the isles (of the sea).
16 From the uttermost part (of the earth) have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant (of the earth).
18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise (of the fear) shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out (of the midst of the pit) shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations (of the earth) do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host (of the high ones) that are on high, and the kings (of the earth) upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD (of hosts) shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.