23 (A)I beheld the earth, and indeed it was (B)without form, and void;
And the heavens, they had no light.
24 (C)I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled,
And all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I beheld, and indeed there was no man,
And (D)all the birds of the heavens had fled.
26 I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a (E)wilderness,
And all its cities were broken down
At the presence of the Lord,
By His fierce anger.

27 For thus says the Lord:

“The whole land shall be desolate;
(F)Yet I will not make a full end.
28 For this (G)shall the earth mourn,
And (H)the heavens above be black,
Because I have spoken.
I have (I)purposed and (J)will not relent,
Nor will I turn back from it.
29 The whole city shall flee from the noise of the horsemen and bowmen.
They shall go into thickets and climb up on the rocks.
Every city shall be forsaken,
And not a man shall dwell in it.

30 “And when you are plundered,
What will you do?
Though you clothe yourself with crimson,
Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
(K)Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,
In vain you will make yourself fair;
(L)Your lovers will despise you;
They will seek your life.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends