⁶ The Lord regretted^(A) that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth^(B) the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.^(C)”

³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah,^(A) so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

¹⁹ because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world,^(A) until now—and never to be equaled again.^(B)

²² For this is the time of punishment^(A) in fulfillment^(B) of all that has been written.

The Lord’s Devastation of the Earth

²⁷ “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk^(A) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword^(B) I will send among you.’ ²⁸ But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink^(C), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! ²⁹ See, I am beginning to bring disaster^(D) on the city that bears my Name,^(E) and will you indeed go unpunished?^(F) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword^(G) on all^(H) who live on the earth,^(I) declares the Lord Almighty.’

³⁰ “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

³² This is what the Lord Almighty says:

³³ At that time those slain^(W) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered^(X) up or buried,^(Y) but will be like dung lying on the ground.

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

4 ^[a]“Surely the day is coming;^(A) it will burn like a furnace.^(B) All the arrogant^(C) and every evildoer will be stubble,^(D) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,^(E)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch^(F) will be left to them. ² But for you who revere my name,^(G) the sun of righteousness^(H) will rise with healing^(I) in its rays. And you will go out and frolic^(J) like well-fed calves.