[1] The LORD is going to twist the earth out of shape and turn it into a desert. Everyone will be scattered, [2] including ordinary people and priests, slaves and slave owners, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, the rich and the poor. [3] The earth will be stripped bare and left that way. This is what the LORD has promised. [4] The earth wilts away; its mighty leaders melt to nothing. [5] The earth is polluted because its people disobeyed the laws of God, breaking their agreement that was to last forever. [6] The earth is under a curse; its people are dying out because of their sins. [7] Grapevines have dried up: wine is almost gone- mournful sounds are heard instead of joyful shouts. [8] No one plays tambourines or stringed instruments; all noisy celebrating has come to an end. [9] They no longer sing as they drink their wine, and it tastes sour. [10] Towns are crushed and in chaos; houses are locked tight. [11] Happy times have disappeared from the earth, and people shout in the streets, "We're out of wine!" [12] Cities are destroyed; their gates are torn down. [13] Nations will be stripped bare, like olive trees or vineyards after the harvest season. [14] People in the west shout; they joyfully praise the majesty of the LORD. [15] And so, everyone in the east and those on the islands should praise the LORD, the God of Israel. [16] From all over the world songs of praise are heard for the God of justice. But I feel awful, terribly miserable. Can anyone be trusted? So many are treacherous! [17] Terror, traps, and pits are waiting for everyone. [18] If you are terrified and run, you will fall into a pit; if you crawl out of the pit, you will get caught in a trap. The sky has split apart like a window thrown open. The foundations of the earth have been shaken; [19] the earth is shattered, ripped to pieces. [20] It staggers and shakes like a drunkard or a hut in a windstorm. It is burdened down with sin; the earth will fall, never again to get up. [21] On that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens and the kings of the earth. [22] He will put them in a pit and keep them prisoner. Then later on, he will punish them. [23] The moon and sun will both be embarrassed and ashamed. The LORD All-Powerful will rule on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where he will show its rulers his wonderful glory.
