1 Woe to you, Babylon, and Asia! Woe to you, Egypt and Syria!
2 Put on sackcloth and garments of goats’ hair, wail for your children and lament; for your destruction is at hand.
3 A sword has been sent upon you, and who is there to turn it back?
4 A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it?
5 Calamities are sent upon you, and who is there to drive them away?
6 Can one drive away a hungry lion in the forest? Can one quench a fire in stubble, once it has begun to burn?
7 Can one turn back an arrow that is shot by a strong archer?
8 The Lord God sends the calamities, and who will drive them away?
9 A fire will go out from his wrath, and who may quench it?
10 He will flash lightning, and who will not fear? He will thunder, and who wouldn’t tremble?
11 The Lord will threaten, and who will not be utterly broken in pieces at his presence?
12 The earth and its foundations quake. The sea rises up with waves from the deep, and its waves will be troubled, along with the fish in them, at the presence of the Lord, and before the glory of his power.
13 For his right hand that bends the bow is strong, his arrows that he shoots are sharp, and will not miss when they begin to be shot into the ends of the world.
14 Behold, the calamities are sent out, and will not return again until they come upon the earth.
15 The fire is kindled and will not be put out until it consumes the foundations of the earth.
16 Just as an arrow which is shot by a mighty archer doesn’t return backward, even so the calamities that are sent out upon earth won’t return again.
17 Woe is me! Woe is me! Who will deliver me in those days?
18 The beginning of sorrows, when there will be great mourning; the beginning of famine, and many will perish; the beginning of wars, and the powers will stand in fear; the beginning of calamities, and all will tremble! What will they do when the calamities come?
19 Behold, famine and plague, suffering and anguish! They are sent as scourges for correction.