“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom^(A)
    or the strong boast of their strength^(B)
    or the rich boast of their riches,^(C)
24 but let the one who boasts boast^(D) about this:
    that they have the understanding to know^(E) me,
that I am the Lord,^(F) who exercises kindness,^(G)
    justice and righteousness^(H) on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

²² “My people are fools;^(A)
    they do not know me.^(B)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.^(C)
They are skilled in doing evil;^(D)
    they know not how to do good.”^(E)

²³ I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty;^(F)
and at the heavens,
    and their light^(G) was gone.
²⁴ I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;^(H)
    all the hills were swaying.
²⁵ I looked, and there were no people;
    every bird in the sky had flown away.^(I)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;^(J)
    all its towns lay in ruins^(K)
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.^(L)