1 ¶ Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it naked and turns it upside down and scatters abroad its inhabitants.

Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

2 A nd it shall be, as with the people so with the priest; as with the slave so with his master; as with the maid so with her mistress; as with the buyer so with the seller; as with the lender so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury so with the giver of usury to him.

It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.

3 T he land shall be utterly emptied and utterly spoiled: for the LORD has spoken this word.

The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.

4 T he earth has destroyed itself and fallen; the world has become sick and fallen; the haughty peoples of the earth are become sick.

The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

5 T he earth is also become bankrupt under its inhabitants because they have transgressed the laws, falsified the order, broken the everlasting covenant.

The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.

6 T herefore the curse has consumed the earth, and those that dwell therein are found guilty; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are consumed, and few men left.

Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

7 T he new wine is lost; the vine is sick; all those who were merryhearted sigh.

The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.

8 T he mirth of tambourines ceases; the noise of those that rejoice ends; the joy of the harp ceases.

The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.

9 T hey shall not drink wine with a song; the drink shall be bitter to them that would drink it.

They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.

10 T he city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up that no man may come in.

The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

11 T here is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened; the mirth of the land is gone.

There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.

12 I n the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.

13 ¶ For thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the peoples as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.

14 T hese shall lift up their voice; they shall sing joyfully in the majesty of the LORD; they shall lift up their voice from the sea.

These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea.

15 T herefore glorify ye the LORD in the valleys; let the LORD God of Israel be called upon by name in the isles of the sea.

Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!

16 ¶ From the uttermost part of the earth we have heard psalms, Glory to the righteous one. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

17 F ear and the pit and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

Fear, the pit, and the snare, are on you who inhabitant the earth.

18 A nd it shall come to pass that he who shall flee from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that shall come up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: because from on high, windows have been opened, and the foundations of the earth shall shake.

It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.

19 T he earth shall be utterly broken down; the earth is clean dissolved; the earth is moved exceedingly.

The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.

20 T he earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall be removed like a cottage; and its transgression shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall and never rise again.

The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.

21 A nd it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall visit punishment upon the host of the high ones that are on high and upon the kings of the earth on the earth.

It shall happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

22 A nd they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days they shall be visited.

They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.

23 T hen the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of the hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and in the presence of his ancients he shall be glorious.

Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders will be glory.