Jeremiah 4:23-31

New International Version

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.

³⁰ What are you doing,^(R) you devastated one?
    Why dress yourself in scarlet
    and put on jewels^(S) of gold?
Why highlight your eyes with makeup?^(T)
    You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers^(U) despise you;
    they want to kill you.^(V)

³¹ I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,^(W)
    a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of Daughter Zion^(X) gasping for breath,^(Y)
    stretching out her hands^(Z) and saying,
“Alas! I am fainting;
    my life is given over to murderers.”^(AA)