4 ²³ I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
4 ²⁴ I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
4 ²⁵ I looked, and lo, there was no man,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
4 ²⁶ I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before Yahweh, before his fierce anger.

4 ²⁷ For thus says Yahweh, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end. 4 ²⁸ For this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above be black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back."

4 ²⁹ At the noise of horseman and archer
every city takes to flight;
they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;
all the cities are forsaken,
and no man dwells in them.
4 ³⁰ And you, O desolate one,
what do you mean that you dress in scarlet,
that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold,
that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
In vain you beautify yourself.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.
4 ³¹ For I heard a cry as of a woman in travail,
anguish as of one bringing forth her first child,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands,
"Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers."