4. Listen! the rumble on the mountains:that of an immense throng!Listen! the noise of kingdoms, nations assembled!The Lord of hosts is musteringan army for battle.
5. They come from a far-off country,and from the end of the heavens,The Lord and the instruments of his wrath,to destroy all the land.
6. Howl, for the day of the Lord is near;as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
7. Therefore all hands fall helpless,every human heart melts,
8. and they are terrified,Pangs and sorrows take hold of them,like a woman in labor they writhe;They look aghast at each other,their faces aflame.
9. Indeed, the day of the Lord comes,cruel, with wrath and burning anger;To lay waste the landand destroy the sinners within it!
10. The stars of the heavens and their constellationswill send forth no light;The sun will be dark at its rising,and the moon will not give its light.
11. Thus I will punish the world for its eviland the wicked for their guilt.I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant,the insolence of tyrants I will humble.
12. I will make mortals more rare than pure gold,human beings, than the gold of Ophir.
13. For this I will make the heavens trembleand the earth shall be shaken from its place,At the wrath of the Lord of hostson the day of his burning anger.
14. Like a hunted gazelle,or a flock that no one gathers,They shall turn each to their own peopleand flee each to their own land.
15. Everyone who is taken shall be run through;and everyone who is caught shall fall by the sword.
16. Their infants shall be dashed to pieces in their sight;their houses shall be plunderedand their wives ravished.
17. I am stirring up against them the Medes,who think nothing of silverand take no delight in gold.