23 I looked at the earth, and behold, it was a [a](A)formless and desolate emptiness;
And to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were (B)quaking,
And all the hills jolted back and forth.
25 I looked, and behold, there was no human,
And all the (C)birds of the sky had fled.
26 I looked, and behold, [b]the (D)fruitful land was a wilderness,
And all its cities were pulled down
Before the Lord, before His fierce anger.

27 For this is what the Lord says:
“The (E)whole land shall be a desolation,
Yet I will (F)not execute a complete destruction.
28 For this the (G)earth will mourn,
And the (H)heavens above will become dark,
Because I have (I)spoken, I have purposed,
And I have not [c]changed My mind, nor will I turn from it.”
29 At the sound of the horseman and archer (J)every city flees;
They (K)go into the thickets and climb among the rocks;
(L)Every city is abandoned,
And no one lives in them.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 4:23 Or waste
  2. Jeremiah 4:26 Or Carmel
  3. Jeremiah 4:28 Or been sorry

23 I looked on the earth, and it was complete chaos,
    and to the heavens, and they had no light.(A)
24 I looked on the mountains, and they were quaking,
    and all the hills moved to and fro.(B)
25 I looked, and there was no one at all,
    and all the birds of the air had fled.(C)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert,
    and all its cities were laid in ruins
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.(D)

27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation, yet I will not make a full end.(E)

28 Because of this the earth shall mourn
    and the heavens above grow black,
for I have spoken; I have purposed;
    I have not relented, nor will I turn back.(F)

29 At the noise of horseman and archer
    every town takes to flight;
they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;
    all the towns are forsaken,
    and no one lives in them.(G)

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