²³ I looked at the earth,
    and it was without shape or form;
        at the heavens
        and there was no light.
²⁴ I looked at the mountains
    and they were quaking;
    all the hills were rocking back and forth.
²⁵ I looked and there was no one left;
    every bird in the sky had taken flight.
²⁶ I looked and the fertile land was a desert;
    all its towns were in ruins
        before the Lord,
        before his fury.
²⁷ The Lord proclaims:
    The whole earth will become a desolation,
        but I will not destroy it completely.
²⁸ Therefore, the earth will grieve
    and the heavens grow dark
        because I have declared my plan
        and will neither change my mind
            nor cancel the plan.
²⁹ As the horsemen and archers approach,
    the people take flight.
They hide in the bushes
    and escape to the cliffs.
Every city is deserted;
    no one remains.