Listen to what I, the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, have to say. I will silence the sounds of joy and gladness and the happy sounds of wedding feasts. The people here will live to see this happen.

I will silence their shouts of joy and gladness and the happy sounds of wedding feasts. They will have no oil for their lamps, and there will be no more grain.

The LORD said, "People are saying that this place is like a desert, that it has no people or animals living in it. And they are right; the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are empty; no people or animals live there. But in these places you will hear again

The grapevines wither, and wine is becoming scarce. Everyone who was once happy is now sad,

and the joyful music of their harps and drums has ceased.

I will put an end to all your songs, and I will silence the music of your harps.

I will put an end to all her festivities---her annual and monthly festivals and her Sabbath celebrations---all her religious meetings.

Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you; no more will the voices of brides and grooms be heard in you. Your merchants were the most powerful in all the world, and with your false magic you deceived all the peoples of the world!"

(The LORD has said that the whole earth will become a wasteland, but that he will not completely destroy it.)

I will bring war on you and scatter you in foreign lands. Your land will be deserted, and your cities left in ruins.

Your country has been devastated, and your cities have been burned to the ground. While you look on, foreigners take over your land and bring everything to ruin.

The city gates will mourn and cry, and the city itself will be like a woman sitting on the ground, stripped naked.

I asked, "How long will it be like this, Lord?" He answered, "Until the cities are ruined and empty---until the houses are uninhabited---until the land itself is a desolate wasteland.

But the earth will become a desert because of the wickedness of those who live on it.