The LORD's Judgment on the Earth

241 Behold , the Lord lays the earth waste , devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants . 2 And the people will be like the priest , the servant like his master , the maid like her mistress , the buyer like the seller , the lender like the borrower , the creditor like the debtor . 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled , for the Lord has spoken this word . 4 The earth mourns and withers , the world fades and withers , the exalted of the people of the earth fade away . 5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants , for they transgressed laws , violated statutes , broke the everlasting covenant . 6 Therefore e , a curse devours the earth , and those who live in it are held guilty . Therefore e , the inhabitants of the earth are burned , and few men are left . 7 The new wine mourns , The vine decays , All the merry-hearted e sigh . 8 The gaiety of tambourines ceases , The noise of revelers stops , The gaiety of the harp ceases . 9 They do not drink wine with song ; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10 The city of chaos is broken down ; Every house is shut up so that none may enter . 11 There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine ; All joy turns to gloom . The gaiety of the earth is banished . 12 Desolation is left in the city And the gate is battered to ruins .

13 For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples , As the shaking of an olive tree , As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over . 14 They raise their voices , they shout for joy ; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the Lord . 15 Therefore e glorify the Lord in the east , The name of the Lord , the God of Israel , In the coastlands of the sea .

16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs , " Glory to the Righteous One ," But I say , " Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously , And the treacherous deal very treacherously ." 17 Terror and pit and snare Confront you, O inhabitant of the earth . 18 Then it will be that he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit , And he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare ; For the windows above e are opened , and the foundations of the earth shake . 19 The earth is broken asunder , The earth is split through , The earth is shaken violently . 20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack , For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall , never to rise again . 21 So it will happen in that day , That the Lord will punish the host of heaven on high , And the kings of the earth on earth . 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon , And will be confined in prison ; And after many days they will be punished . 23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed , For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem , And His glory will be before His elders .