The entire land will be a desolate waste,
    but I will not destroy it completely.
²⁸ Because of this the earth will mourn
    and the heavens above will grow dark.
For I have spoken and made clear my intention,
    and I will not relent or turn back.
²⁹ At the shouts of horsemen and archers
    every city takes to flight.
Some people crawl into the thickets
    while others scale the rocks.
All the cities are abandoned,
    with no one to live in them.