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

27 This is what the Lord says:

“The whole land will be ruined,(H)
    though I will not destroy(I) it completely.
28 Therefore the earth will mourn(J)
    and the heavens above grow dark,(K)
because I have spoken and will not relent,(L)
    I have decided and will not turn back.(M)

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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.

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