²⁷ All this will happen because the Lord said,^[a]
“The whole land will be desolate;
however, I will not completely destroy it.
²⁸ Because of this the land will mourn
and the sky above will grow black.^[b]
For I have made my purpose known,^[c]
and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.”^[d]
29 At the sound of the approaching horsemen and archers
the people of every town will flee.
Some of them will hide in the thickets.
Others will climb up among the rocks.
All the cities will be deserted.
No one will remain in them.