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)

“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)”

²⁹ At the sound of horsemen and archers^(N)
    every town takes to flight.^(O)
Some go into the thickets;
    some climb up among the rocks.^(P)
All the towns are deserted;^(Q)
    no one lives in them.