20. Ruin upon ruin is reported;the whole land is laid waste.In an instant my tents are ravaged;in a flash, my shelters.
21. How long must I see the signal,hear the blast of the horn!
22. My people are fools,they do not know me;They are senseless children,without understanding;They are wise at evil,but they do not know how to do good.
23. I looked at the earth—it was waste and void;at the heavens—their light had gone out!
24. I looked at the mountains—they were quaking!All the hills were crumbling!
25. I looked—there was no one;even the birds of the air had flown away!
26. I looked—the garden land was a wilderness,with all its cities destroyedbefore the Lord, before his blazing anger.
27. For thus says the Lord:The whole earth shall be waste,but I will not wholly destroy it.
28. Because of this the earth shall mourn,the heavens above shall darken;I have spoken, I will not change my mind,I have decided, I will not turn back.