25. I looked, and behold, there was no man,and all the birds of the air had fled.
26. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert,and all its cities were laid in ruinsbefore the Lord, before his fierce anger.
27. For thus says the Lord, “The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
28. “For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark;for I have spoken; I have purposed; I have not relented, nor will I turn back.”
29. At the noise of horseman and archerevery city takes to flight;they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;all the cities are forsaken,and no man dwells in them.
30. And you, O desolate one,what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint?In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you;they seek your life.
31. For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor,anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands,“Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”