2 Priests and laypeople,servants and masters,maids and mistresses,buyers and sellers,lenders and borrowers,bankers and debtors—none will be spared.
3 The earth will be completely emptied and looted.The lord has spoken!
4 The earth mourns and dries up,and the land wastes away and withers.Even the greatest people on earth waste away.
5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people,for they have twisted God’s instructions,violated his laws,and broken his everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.Its people must pay the price for their sin.They are destroyed by fire,and only a few are left alive.
7 The grapevines waste away,and there is no new wine.All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.
8 The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.The melodious chords of the harp are silent.